Elymandra

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (3). Culms erect; slender (1/1); 30–162.8–260 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane (4), or a ciliolate membrane (3). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole, or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (1). Leaf-blades stiff (3), or firm (3). Leaf-blade midrib widened (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; scanty (4), or paniculate (2). Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1). Spatheole linear; scarious.

Racemes single (1), or paired (5); bearing few fertile spikelets (5), or many spikelets (1); bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each (3), or 2–3 fertile spikelets on each (2), or 4–5 fertile spikelets on each (1), or 6–8 fertile spikelets on each (2), or 9 fertile spikelets on each (1). Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Spikelet packing crowded (2), or contiguous (2), or lax (2). Rhachis internodes filiform. Rhachis internode tip oblique. Raceme-bases brief (1), or filiform (5); unequal (the longer measured) (5/5).

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; persistent (5), or separately deciduous (1).

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus oblong (4), or cuneate (1), or linear (1). Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (1/1), or mucronate (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 5.81–9.684–16 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; pubescent (2), or bearded (4); base obtuse (1), or pungent (5); attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; chartaceous; without keels; 7 -veined (2/2). Lower glume surface without pits; pubescent (2), or pilose (2), or villous (2). Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined (2/2). Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute (5), or acuminate (1); muticous (1), or awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (5), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex dentate (2), or lobed (4); 2 -fid; incised 0.2–0.3583–0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Column of lemma awn hispidulous (2), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2), or hirtellous (1). Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or South America (1).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.