Eremopyrum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (3/3), or decumbent (3/3); 10–19.37–30 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; not deciduous as a whole (3), or deciduous as a whole (1); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (3), or an inflated leaf-sheath (2).

Racemes single; oblong, or ovate (1); bilateral. Rhachis tough (1), or fragile at the nodes (3). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes oblong; falling with spikelet above (3/3).

Spikelets ascending (2), or pectinate (2); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (2), or 3 fertile florets, or 4–5 fertile florets (2); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–14.5–25 mm long; falling entire (3), or breaking up at maturity (1); deciduous with accessory branch structures (3/3); disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached (1/1). Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; parallel to lemmas (3), or recurved at apex (1). Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (3); not gibbous (3), or gibbous (1); 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (2), or 3–5 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (2), or distinct (2). Lower glume surface convex (3), or grooved on either side of midvein (1); without pits; glabrous (2), or pilose (1), or villous (1), or hispid (1). Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (2), or cuspidate (1); muticous (2), or awned (2). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (3); not gibbous (3), or gibbous (1); 0.75–0.9375–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (2), or 3–5 -veined (2). Upper glume surface glabrous (2), or pilose (1), or villous (1), or hispid (1). Upper glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (2), or cuspidate (1); muticous (2), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (2), or pilose (1), or villous (1), or hispid (1). Lemma apex acuminate; muticous (1), or mucronate (1), or awned (3); 1 -awned (3/3). Palea keels smooth (2), or scabrous (2); eciliate (3), or ciliolate (1). Palea surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (1). Palea apex dentate (2/2); muticous (3), or awned (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (3/3); ciliate (3/3). Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong (3/3); apex fleshy. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (3), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (1), or North America (1).

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