Loudetiopsis

HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (11). Rhizomes absent (12), or elongated (1). Culms erect (9/11), or geniculately ascending (3/11), or decumbent (2/11); 30–110.8–260 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (2/2), or sparse (1/2). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or filiform (1), or linear (12); stiff (2), or firm (11). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (12), or contracted (4). Primary panicle branches not whorled (12), or whorled at most nodes (1). Panicle axis bearing persistent branches (10), or deciduous spikelet clusters (3).

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels free (10), or fused to each other (3); filiform (6/6).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–11.9–35 mm long; falling entire (3), or breaking up at maturity (10); deciduous in a cluster with fused pedicels (3/3); disarticulating below each fertile floret (10/10). Floret callus brief (2), or evident (11); pubescent (1/11), or pilose (4/11), or bearded (6/11); truncate (7), or obtuse (3), or unequally 2-toothed (1), or 2-toothed (3).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (10/10); reaching apex of florets (7), or exceeding apex of florets (6); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (10), or gaping (3). Lower glume lanceolate (9), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); 0.5–0.65–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined (11/11), or 4–5 -veined (1/11). Lower glume surface smooth (12), or asperulous (1); without pits; glabrous (4), or hispid (1), or setose (11). Lower glume apex truncate (2), or obtuse (5), or acute (3), or acuminate (5); muticous (12), or mucronate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (11), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined (9/11), or 4 -veined (1/11), or 5 -veined (3/11), or 6–7 -veined (1/11). Upper glume surface glabrous (6), or pubescent (1), or hispidulous (1), or setose (6); with simple hairs (2/8), or tubercle-based hairs (6/8). Upper glume apex emarginate (1), or truncate (5), or obtuse (2), or acute (1), or acuminate (7).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (11), or oblong (2); membranous (3), or chartaceous (11); 3 -veined (8/11), or 4 -veined (1/11), or 5 -veined (2/11), or 6 -veined (1/11), or 7 -veined (3/11), or 8–9 -veined (1/11); truncate (2), or obtuse (5), or acute (5), or acuminate (5). Palea of lower sterile floret wingless (10), or winged on keels (3). Fertile lemma linear (1), or lanceolate (1), or elliptic (9), or oblong (2); coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5–6 -veined (2/11), or 7 -veined (11/11), or 8–9 -veined (1/11). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent (10), or pilose (2), or villous (1). Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.1–0.1664–0.33 of lemma length; acuminate (1/1); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved (1), or geniculate (12). Column of lemma awn glabrous (7/12), or hispidulous (3/12), or pubescent (2/12). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels separated (3), or approximate (10); unthickened (3), or thickened (10). Palea surface glabrous (11), or pilose (2).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 2 (10), or 3 (3). Stigmas 2 (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (10/10); linear (1/1). Hilum linear (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (11), or North America (2), or South America (1).

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