Germainia

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (6). Stolons absent (8), or present (1). Culms erect (1/1); slender (1/1); 5–49.68–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (4/6), or ample (2/6). Ligule an eciliate membrane (3), or a ciliolate membrane (2), or a ciliate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (2). Leaf-blades linear (5), or lanceolate (4).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (8), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (8), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Racemes single (5), or paired (4), or digitate (3); side by side (4/5), or appressed back to back (1/5); erect (3), or ascending (6); linear (3), or oblong (6); bearing few fertile spikelets (6), or many spikelets (3); bearing 1–5–15 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis evident (4), or obsolete (5); angular (2/3), or subterete (1/3). Rhachis internodes indefinite (2/4), or filiform (1/4), or linear (1/4).

Spikelets in pairs (7), or in threes (2). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster (7), or 2 in the cluster (2). Pedicels linear (1/1); tip discoid (1/1).

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent (7), or well-developed (3); not involucral (1/3), or forming an involucre about the fertile (2/3).

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; persistent. Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (6), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); subterete (8), or dorsally compressed (1); 2.5–5.454–11 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus brief (2), or oblong (1), or cuneate (1), or linear (5); pilose (5/5); base obtuse (2), or acute (1), or pungent (6); attached transversely (1/8), or attached obliquely (7/8).

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (8), or exceeding apex of florets (1); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (5), or elliptic (1), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); 0.9–1.137–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous (1), or chartaceous (6), or coriaceous (2); without keels; 0 -veined (2), or 1–2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (8), or 4–5 -veined (4). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (8). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (6), or pilose (3). Lower glume apex entire (8), or dentate (1); 2 -fid (1/1); truncate (5/8), or obtuse (6/8), or acute (1/8). Upper glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1), or oblong (4), or ovate (1); membranous (1), or chartaceous (6), or coriaceous (2); without keels; 0 -veined (2), or 1 -veined (3), or 2 -veined (2), or 3 -veined (7). Upper glume surface glabrous (7), or pilose (2). Upper glume apex entire (8), or dentate (1); 2 -fid (1/1); truncate (4/8), or obtuse (6/8), or acute (1/8).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong (7/7), or ovate (1/7); hyaline; 0 -veined (1/1); truncate (2/4), or obtuse (1/4), or acute (1/4). Fertile lemma linear (7/7); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 1 -veined (4/4). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate (8), or bigeniculate (1). Column of lemma awn pubescent (7), or ciliate (1), or hirtellous (1). Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (3/3); ellipsoid (1/1); biconvex (1/1). Embryo 0.5–0.625–0.75 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (8), or Australasia (3).

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