Gaudinia

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (3), or geniculately ascending; 8–20.12–33 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted (3), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Racemes single; unilateral (1), or bilateral (3). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened (3), or angular (1). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 2 -rowed (1/1). Rhachis internodes linear (3), or clavate (1); falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets (3), or 6 fertile florets (2), or 7–8 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or cuneate (3); laterally compressed; 6–11–20 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (3), or sparsely hairy (1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (3), or oblong (1); 0.5–0.6325–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (3); without keels (1), or 1-keeled (3); 3 -veined (3), or 5–7 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins without ribs (3), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface smooth (3), or scabrous (2); without pits; glabrous (3), or pubescent (1), or villous (2). Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (3). Upper glume oblong, or obovate (1); 0.8–1.037–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (3); with undifferentiated margins (3), or membranous margins (1); without keels (1), or 1-keeled (3); 5–6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined, or 8–11 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface smooth (3), or scabrous (2); glabrous (3), or pubescent (1), or villous (2). Upper glume apex emarginate (1), or obtuse (2), or acute (2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (3), or oblong (1); cartilaginous (1), or coriaceous (3); of similar consistency on margins (1), or much thinner on margins (3); without keel (1), or keeled (3); wingless; 5 -veined (1), or 7–9 -veined (3). Lemma lateral veins obscure (3/3). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous, or villous (1). Lemma apex acute (2), or acuminate (2); muticous (1), or awned (3); 1 -awned (3/3). Principal lemma awn dorsal (3/3); straight (1/3), or curved (1/3), or geniculate (2/3). Palea 0.9–0.925–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (3), or scaberulous (1); eciliate (2), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent all over (3/3).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (3/3); oblong (3/3). Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

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

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