Ichnanthus

HABIT Annual (7), or perennial (27). Rhizomes absent (25), or short (2), or elongated (6). Stolons absent (32), or present (1). Culms erect (16/30), or geniculately ascending (6/30), or decumbent (9/30), or prostrate (2/30), or rambling (6/30), or scandent (2/30); robust (2/3), or slender (1/3); 6–115.2–1000 cm long; firm (32), or woody (2); without nodal roots (1/11), or with prop roots (1/11), or rooting from lower nodes (10/11). Lateral branches lacking (2/9), or sparse (4/9), or ample (3/9). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (28), or erect (5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (2), or a ciliolate membrane (6), or a ciliate membrane (20), or a fringe of hairs (5). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (23), or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (10), or with a false petiole (4). Leaf-blades linear (5), or lanceolate (30), or elliptic (4), or oblong (4), or ovate (7); membranous (4), or herbaceous (28), or coriaceous (1); stiff (3), or firm (29), or flaccid (1). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (2/2). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (4), or with obscure cross veins (1), or with distinct cross veins (28). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (3/3).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (26), or composed of racemes (10); terminal (29), or terminal and axillary (7); exserted (31), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (3).

Panicle open (26/26). Primary panicle branches not whorled (20/26), or whorled at lower nodes (2/26), or whorled at most nodes (4/26).

Racemes borne along a central axis (10/10); appressed (2/10), or erect (1/10), or ascending (8/10); unilateral (1/1). Rhachis angular (1/1). Spikelet packing crowded (3/10), or contiguous (1/10), or lax (3/10), or distant (3/10).

Spikelets appressed (6/29), or ascending (23/29); in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or sessile and pedicelled (16), or pedicelled (16); 2 in the cluster (32/32). Pedicels filiform (26/27), or oblong (1/27).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (32/32). Spikelets lanceolate (18), or elliptic (8), or oblong (7), or ovate (4); laterally compressed (32), or dorsally compressed (1); 2–4.691–10 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (32), or elongated between glumes (1). Floret callus without wings (1), or winged (32); with apical wings adnate to lemma (20/32), or apical wings shrivelled to concave scars (9/32), or apical wings reduced to convex swellings (3/32).

GLUMES Glumes distichous (32), or lateral (1); shorter than spikelet (2), or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (31), or gaping (2). Lower glume lanceolate (17), or elliptic (2), or oblong (3), or ovate (16), or obovate (2); clasping (1/1); membranous (1), or herbaceous (31), or cartilaginous (1); without keels (1), or 1-keeled (32); 1–2 -veined (3), or 3 -veined (29), or 4 -veined (7), or 5 -veined (10), or 6 -veined (2), or 7 -veined (3), or 8–9 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (3), or distinct; without ribs (25), or ribbed (8). Lower glume surface smooth (29), or asperulous (2), or scabrous (3); without pits; glabrous (26), or pubescent (2), or pilose (9), or villous (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (17), or acuminate (5), or attenuate (4), or setaceously attenuate (2), or cuspidate (5), or caudate (1); muticous (31), or awned (2). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (13), or elliptic (7), or oblong (7), or ovate (12); 0.9–0.95–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous (32), or cartilaginous (1); with undifferentiated margins (31), or hyaline margins (2); without keels (4/32), or 1-keeled (28/32); 3 -veined (2), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (27), or 6 -veined (7), or 7 -veined (11), or 8 -veined (2), or 9 -veined (3), or 10–11 -veined (2). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (26), or ribbed (7). Upper glume surface smooth (31), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); glabrous (25), or pubescent (3), or pilose (9), or villous (2); with simple hairs (12/13), or tubercle-based hairs (1/13). Upper glume apex obtuse (4), or acute (17), or acuminate (12), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (1), or cuspidate (2), or caudate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (4), or barren (29); with palea (32), or without significant palea (1). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (8/32), or elliptic (4/32), or oblong (16/32), or ovate (11/32); cartilaginous (1/1); 3 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (28), or 6 -veined (6), or 7 -veined (9), or 8 -veined (1), or 9–11 -veined (2); without ribs (26), or ribbed (7); obtuse (4/32), or acute (19/32), or acuminate (9/32), or setaceously attenuate (1/32), or cuspidate (1/32), or caudate (1/32). Fertile lemma lanceolate (8/32), or elliptic (16/32), or oblong (9/32), or ovate (4/32), or obovate (1/32); dorsally compressed (31/31); chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1), or indurate (31); without keel (32/32); wingless; 5 -veined (1/1). Lemma lateral veins obscure (4/4). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute; eciliate (32), or ciliolate (2). Lemma apex obtuse (9/32), or acute (22/32), or acuminate (2/32); without ornament (32), or pubescent (1). Palea not rolled (1), or involute (32); cartilaginous (1), or indurate (32).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (23/23); fleshy (23/23). Anthers 3 (29/29).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (32/32); oblong (2/2); dorsally compressed (1/1). Hilum punctiform (1/2), or elliptic (1/2).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (1), or Australasia (1), or North America (6), or South America.

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