Eremochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (8), or elongated (5). Culms erect (8/9), or geniculately ascending (5/9), or decumbent (1/9); 6.08–38.48–80 cm long. Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (10), or a ciliolate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1); stiff (1), or firm (12).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (12), or terminal and axillary (1).

Racemes single, or paired (2); unilateral. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened (2/10), or angular (4/10), or subterete (4/10). Spikelet packing crowded (1), or contiguous (12). Rhachis internodes linear (2), or columnar (1), or clavate (9), or cuneate (2). Rhachis internode tip crateriform (7/7).

Spikelets appressed (12), or ascending (1); in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform (1), or linear (5), or narrowly elliptic (5), or cuneate (2).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels (10), or represented by awns (2), or rudimentary (2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic (5), or oblong (3), or ovate (5), or obovate (1); dorsally compressed; 3–4.495–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus glabrous (2/7), or pubescent (3/7), or pilose (2/7), or bearded (2/7); base truncate; simple (3), or with central boss (10); attached transversely (10/10).

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic (4), or oblong (4), or ovate (5); chartaceous (3), or coriaceous (10); 2-keeled; wingless (5), or winged on keel (8); 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (3), or 6 -veined (4), or 7 -veined (10), or 8 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (2). Lower glume surface convex (2), or flat (11); without pits; glabrous, or puberulous (3), or pilose (1). Lower glume apex emarginate (1/9), or truncate (3/9), or obtuse (2/9), or acute (5/9); muticous (12), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (4), or oblong (3), or ovate (4); chartaceous (10), or coriaceous (3); 1-keeled; wingless (6), or winged on keel (7); 3 -veined (11/12), or 5 -veined (1/12). Upper glume lateral veins transversely connected at apex (3/4), or with cross-veins (1/4). Upper glume surface glabrous (12), or puberulous (1). Upper glume apex acute (8/10), or acuminate (2/10).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (12), or barren (1); with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic (7), or oblong (3), or ovate (3); hyaline; 0 -veined (1/2), or 2 -veined (1/2); obtuse (4/6), or acute (2/6). Fertile lemma elliptic (7), or oblong (3), or ovate (3); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 0 -veined (2/4), or 2 -veined (1/4), or 5 -veined (1/4). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse (7/8), or acute (1/8). Palea 0.1–0.9214–1 length of lemma; hyaline (12), or membranous (1); 0 -veined (1/1); without keels (2), or 2-keeled (11).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 3 (12/12).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); ellipsoid (3/4), or ovoid (1/4). Embryo 0.75 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia, or Australasia (3), or Pacific (1), or North America (1), or South America (1).

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