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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.
Melanocenchris
HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (1). Culms geniculately ascending (2/2), or decumbent (1/2); 6–18.5–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (2), or linear (1).
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes borne along a central axis; spreading; cuneate; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; terminating in a barren extension; extension a forked bristle.
Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; dorsally compressed; 3–6.5–9 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.
GLUMES Glumes collateral; shorter than spikelet (2), or reaching apex of florets (1). Lower glume linear; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (2). Lower glume surface without pits; villous. Lower glume apex awned. Upper glume linear; 0.3–0.35–0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (2). Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (1); awned; 1 -awned.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous (2), or chartaceous (1); of similar consistency on margins (1), or much thinner on margins (2); keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth (2), or scaberulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliolate (2). Lemma apex entire (1), or lobed (2); 3 -fid (2/2); incised 0.25 of lemma length; emarginate (1/1), or acute (1/1); awned; 1 -awned (1), or 3 -awned (2). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (2/2). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number (1), or 2 in number, or 3 in number (2); male (1), or barren; oblong (1), or cuneate (2). Apical sterile lemmas muticous (2), or awned (1).
FLOWER Anthers 3 (2/2).
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); oblong (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa (2), or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
