Eriachne

HABIT Annual (18), or perennial (34). Rhizomes absent (46), or short (1), or elongated (3). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (32/37), or geniculately ascending (19/37), or decumbent (1/37); robust (1/7), or slender (6/7); 3–46.99–150 cm long; firm (38), or wiry (9), or woody (1). Culm-internodes unequal, the lower longer (1/1); terete (5/6), or channelled (1/6), or elliptical in section (2/6). Culm-nodes constricted (1/1), or flush with internodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (16/29), or sparse (7/29), or ample (10/29), or fastigiate (4/29). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (12), or linear (35), or lanceolate (1); herbaceous (47), or coriaceous (1); stiff (9), or firm (38), or flaccid (1). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (1/1). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (15/15). Leaf-blade apex muticous (44), or pungent (4).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (46), or comprising only a few spikelets (2); terminal (46), or terminal and axillary (2).

Panicle open (35/46), or contracted (9/46), or spiciform (4/46), or capitate (1/46).

Spikelets appressed (1/1); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (47). Pedicels filiform (8/8); tip widened (5/5).

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate (46), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 1–5.735–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus attached obliquely (1/1). Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (47), or elongated (1); pubescent (3/17), or pilose (3/17), or bearded (11/17); obtuse (44), or acute (4).

GLUMES Glumes distichous (46), or oblique (2); persistent; shorter than spikelet (18), or reaching apex of florets (15), or exceeding apex of florets (20); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (43), or gaping (5). Lower glume lanceolate (15), or elliptic (12), or oblong (6), or ovate (28), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 0.8–0.9948–1 length of upper glume; membranous (43), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5); without keels; 3–9–15 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure (4), or distinct (37), or prominent (7); without ribs (47), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous (4); without pits; glabrous (38), or pubescent (2), or pilose (4), or villous (1), or hispidulous (2), or hispid (4). Lower glume apex obtuse (11), or acute (23), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (3), or setaceously attenuate (2), or cuspidate (2); muticous (42), or mucronate (10), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (15), or elliptic (12), or oblong (6), or ovate (28), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 0.5–0.9638–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (43), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5); with undifferentiated margins (31), or hyaline margins (12), or membranous margins (1), or scarious margins (4); without keels; 3–9–15 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (47), or ciliate (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (47), or ribbed (1). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (4); glabrous (38), or pubescent (2), or pilose (4), or villous (1), or hispidulous (2), or hispid (4); with simple hairs (7/13), or tubercle-based hairs (7/13). Upper glume apex obtuse (11), or acute (23), or acuminate (19), or attenuate (2), or setaceously attenuate (3), or cuspidate (2); muticous (42), or mucronate (9), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (17), or elliptic (15), or oblong (2), or ovate (24), or obovate (1), or oblanceolate (1); laterally compressed; membranous (9), or chartaceous (9), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (5), or coriaceous (25); of similar consistency on margins (44), or much thinner on margins (4); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (1/32), or 5 -veined (16/32), or 6 -veined (6/32), or 7 -veined (21/32). Lemma lateral veins obscure (3/13), or prominent (9/13), or thickened (1/13); without ribs (46), or ribbed (2). Lemma surface smooth (44), or scaberulous (5), or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves (42), or with 2 longitudinal grooves (6); glabrous (3), or pubescent (9), or pilose (13), or villous (22), or plumose (1), or setose (1); with simple hairs (44/45), or tubercle-based hairs (1/45); without hair tufts (47), or with a transverse fringe of hair (1). Lemma margins involute; exposing palea (46), or interlocking with palea keels (2); eciliate (34), or ciliate (15). Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute (34), or acuminate (16), or cuspidate (2); without ornament (45), or scabrous (4); muticous (17), or mucronate (6), or awned (31); 1 -awned (31/31). Principal lemma awn straight (28/33), or curved (6/33). Palea embraced by lemma (44), or gaping (5); 0.9–0.9971–1 length of lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (11), or chartaceous (7), or scarious (1), or cartilaginous (20), or coriaceous (8); 2 -veined (20/20). Palea keels smooth (47), or scabrous (1); eciliate (44), or ciliate (4). Palea surface glabrous (12), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (10), or pilose (18), or villous (9). Palea apex entire (8/21), or dentate (15/21); muticous (38), or with excurrent keel veins (2), or awned (8).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (10/10). Anthers 2 (2/19), or 3 (17/19).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (46/46); lanceolate (1/25), or ellipsoid (5/25), or oblong (4/25), or obovoid (19/25); plano-convex (1/1). Embryo 0.1–0.2715–0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (7), or Australasia, or Pacific (1).

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