Lepturus

HABIT Annual (6), or perennial (9). Stolons absent (12), or present (3). Culms erect (5/10), or geniculately ascending (6/10), or decumbent (2/10); 5–31.93–120 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (3/3). Lateral branches ample (1/1). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (13), or erect (2). Ligule an eciliate membrane (2), or a ciliolate membrane (12), or absent (1). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (14), or with a false petiole (3). Leaf-blades linear (14), or lanceolate (3); stiff (1), or firm (14). Leaf-blade apex muticous, or pungent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted (13), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (2).

Racemes single; linear (14), or moniliform (1); bilateral. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; wingless (14), or narrowly winged (1); folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets (1/1); flattened (1), or subcylindrical and excavated (14). Spikelet packing adaxial; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong. Rhachis internode tip transverse (9), or oblique (6); flat (14), or notched (1).

Spikelets sunken (14), or appressed (1); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (1/1); 1 fertile florets (12), or 2 fertile florets (4); without rhachilla extension (1/13), or with a barren rhachilla extension (10/13), or with diminished florets at the apex (3/13). Spikelets lanceolate (7), or elliptic (1), or oblong (7), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 1.5–4.714–14 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus brief (14), or oblong (1); glabrous (1/1); base truncate (3/4), or acute (1/4); attached transversely (3/4), or inserted (1/4). Rhachilla internodes definite (5/5).

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets (5), or exceeding apex of florets (10); firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate (9), or elliptic (1), or oblong (4), or ovate (2); 1–1.32–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–6 -veined (4/11), or 7 -veined (7/11), or 8 -veined (6/11), or 9 -veined (7/11), or 10 -veined (4/11), or 11 -veined (6/11), or 12 -veined (5/11), or 13 -veined (1/11). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (12), or ribbed (3). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1); glabrous (12), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex truncate (1), or obtuse (2), or acute (5), or acuminate (3), or attenuate (5), or cuspidate (1); muticous (10), or awned (5), or awned only on distal spikelets (2); 1 -awned (7/7).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (1/1); with palea (1/1). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1/1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (6), or elliptic (5), or ovate (4); membranous (11), or coriaceous (4); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex (2/2). Lemma surface smooth (14), or asperulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (12), or puberulous (4). Lemma margins eciliate (14), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex entire (14), or erose (2); truncate (1), or obtuse (6), or acute (9). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (8/8). Palea keels wingless (14), or winged (1); eciliate (13), or ciliolate (2). Apical sterile florets 1 in number (3/3); barren (1/1); linear (1/3), or lanceolate (2/3).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (5/5); fleshy (1/1). Anthers 3 (5/5). Stigmas 2 (5/5).

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp (7/7); ellipsoid (4/5), or oblong (1/5); dorsally compressed (5/5). Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (5/6), or elliptic (1/6).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (11), or Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (5), or Pacific (1).

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