Halopyrum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; erect; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–7 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 12–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; villous. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; without keel, or keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.05 of lemma length; obtuse, or acute; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; concavo-convex. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia.

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