Gouinia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (7), or short (2). Culms erect (6/7), or decumbent (1/7), or scandent (1/7); slender (1/1); 30–114.1–300 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (4/5), or ample (1/5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (6), or a ciliolate membrane (4). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; ascending (4), or spreading (4), or drooping (2), or deflexed (2); unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing contiguous (2), or lax (5), or distant (2). Raceme-bases brief (4), or filiform (5).

Spikelets appressed (3/6), or ascending (1/6), or spreading (2/6), or deflexed (1/6); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (8). Pedicels filiform (1/5), or linear (4/5).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (3), or 3 fertile florets (6), or 4 fertile florets (5), or 5 fertile florets (4), or 6 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10.43–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (5), or evident (4); pubescent (3/4), or bearded (1/4).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.66–0.7856–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (7), or 2 -veined (4), or 3 -veined (6), or 4 -veined (3), or 5 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (5), or acuminate (3); muticous (7), or mucronate (2), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (2), or ovate (6); 0.6–0.7278–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (2), or 3–4 -veined (4), or 5 -veined (7), or 6–7 -veined (4). Upper glume apex emarginate (1), or obtuse (4), or acute (3), or acuminate (3); muticous (6), or mucronate (3), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (2), or 6–7 -veined (1). Lemma midvein eciliate (1), or ciliate (8). Lemma lateral veins excurrent (1/1), or extending close to apex (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (8), or pilose (1); hairy between veins (1/1). Lemma margins eciliate (3), or ciliate (6). Lemma apex entire (4), or dentate (5); 2 -fid (5/5); acuminate (4/4); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical (4), or from a sinus (5); straight, or curved (1). Palea 0.75–0.9375–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (1/1). Palea keels smooth (8), or scabrous (1); eciliate (4), or ciliate (5). Palea surface glabrous (7), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1). Palea apex muticous (7), or awned (2). Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas muticous (1), or awned (8).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (2/2); fleshy (2/2). Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); ellipsoid (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION North America (5), or South America (6).

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