Eriochrysis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (9), or short (1). Culms erect (7/7); 12–81.1–220 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (6), or a ciliolate membrane (2), or a ciliate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades stiff (1), or firm (9).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; not compacted (6), or in a multilateral false spike (4); appressed (8), or ascending (2); linear, or oblong (7), or ovate (1); bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets (9); bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller. Pedicels linear; tip widened (1/5), or discoid (4/5).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (2); dorsally compressed; 2.5–4.516–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (4), or exceeding apex of florets (6); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (2); chartaceous (2), or cartilaginous (3), or coriaceous (5); without keels; 5–7 -veined (1/1). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (3), or distinct (6), or prominent (1). Lower glume surface flat; smooth (9), or scabrous (1); without pits; glabrous (7), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1), or villous (2). Lower glume apex entire (9), or dentate (1); 3 -fid (1/1); truncate (2/7), or obtuse (3/7), or acute (3/7). Upper glume lanceolate (1/6), or elliptic (5/6); chartaceous (2/5), or cartilaginous (1/5), or coriaceous (2/5); 1-keeled (5/5); 5–7 -veined (1/1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (9), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose (1). Upper glume apex acute (4/5), or acuminate (1/5).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (6), or oblong (4); hyaline; 0 -veined (6/8), or 2 -veined (2/8); obtuse (1/1), or acute (1/1). Fertile lemma linear (1), or lanceolate (6), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 0 -veined (9/9). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (9), or puberulous (1); without hair tufts (9), or with conspicuous apical hairs (1). Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (8). Lemma apex attenuate (1/1). Palea absent or minute.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis oblong (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (3), or Tropical Asia (1), or North America (1), or South America (6).

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