GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Lintonia

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect (1), or decumbent; 22–47.5–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes digitate (1), or borne along a central axis (1); unilateral. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous (1), or lax (1); 2 -rowed (1/1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets, or 8–10 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (1), or orbicular (1), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 5–7.1–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.675–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (1), or 1-keeled (1); 0 -veined (1), or 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (1). Upper glume oblong (1), or ovate (1); 0.6–0.675–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels (1), or 1-keeled (1); 1–3 -veined (1). Upper glume apex emarginate (1), or obtuse (1), or acute (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (1), or obovate (1); chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keel; wingless; 5–6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined, or 8–11 -veined (1). Lemma lateral veins obscure (1), or distinct (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; hairy on back (1), or between veins (1); with simple hairs (1), or capitate hairs (1). Lemma apex entire (1), or dentate (1); 2 -fid (1/1); emarginate (1/1); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight (1), or flexuous (1). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (1), or winged (1); ciliolate (1), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (1), or pubescent (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; biconvex; smooth.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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