Loudetia

HABIT Annual (9), or perennial (16). Rhizomes absent (24), or short (1). Culms erect (18/19), or geniculately ascending (7/19), or prostrate (1/19); slender (3/3); 15–91.2–400 cm long; firm (23), or wiry (2); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Culm-nodes flush with internodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (6/8), or sparse (2/8), or ample (1/8). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (5), or linear (23); stiff (6), or firm (19).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (24), or terminal and axillary (1).

Panicle open (10), or contracted (11), or spiciform (5). Primary panicle branches not whorled (23), or whorled at most nodes (2).

Spikelets appressed (3/3); solitary (23), or in pairs (2), or in threes (2). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels filiform (1/5), or oblong (4/5).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (4), or lanceolate (21), or oblong (4); laterally compressed; 6–11.7–32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident (16), or elongated (9); glabrous (2), or pubescent (13), or bearded (10); truncate (13), or acute (2), or pungent (3), or unequally 2-toothed (3), or 2-toothed (6).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (3), or reaching apex of florets (17), or exceeding apex of florets (5); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (21), or gaping (4). Lower glume lanceolate (7), or elliptic (2), or oblong (2), or ovate (16); chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (13), or puberulous (1), or pilose (2), or hispid (1), or setose (15). Lower glume apex entire (23), or dentate (3); 2 -fid (1/3), or 3 -fid (2/3); truncate (1/23), or obtuse (14/23), or acute (9/23), or acuminate (4/23), or setaceously attenuate (1/23); muticous (22), or mucronate (3). Upper glume lanceolate (24), or oblong (1); chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (24), or asperulous (1); glabrous (16), or pilose (3), or hispid (1), or setose (11); with tubercle-based hairs (15/15). Upper glume apex truncate (8), or obtuse (11), or acute (5), or acuminate (5), or caudate (2); muticous (24), or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (23), or barren (2); with palea (24), or without significant palea (1). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (23), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); chartaceous (4/4); 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (1); emarginate (1), or truncate (3), or obtuse (6), or acute (13), or acuminate (8), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (1). Palea of lower sterile floret wingless (22/24), or winged on keels (2/24). Fertile lemma elliptic (3), or oblong (22); coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (8), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (18), or 9 -veined (2). Lemma lateral veins obscure (5/5). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent (24), or villous (1). Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex entire (6), or dentate (16), or lobed (4); 2 -fid (20/20); incised 0.1–0.175–0.2 of lemma length; emarginate (4/22), or obtuse (1/22), or acute (18/22); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical (4), or from a sinus (22); flexuous (1), or geniculate (24). Column of lemma awn glabrous (16/24), or puberulous (6/24), or pubescent (1/24), or hirsute (1/24). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; thickened. Palea surface glabrous (23), or pubescent (2).

FLOWER Anthers 2 (21), or 3 (4).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform (1/1). Hilum linear (5/5).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (24), or Temperate Asia (1), or South America (1).

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