Gerritea

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 60–120 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; linear, or lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 1.8–2.2 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea separating from lemma above; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; truncate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America.

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