Lasiurus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Rhachis internodes cuneate. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–2 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; tip rectangular.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes mucronate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate; with central peg; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; coriaceous; 2-keeled. Lower glume surface flat; without pits. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; caudate. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia.

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