Metcalfia

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending (1); 10–37.5–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform (3), or linear (1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (3), or pungent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (3), or composed of racemes (2), or comprising only a few spikelets (1).

Panicle contracted (3/3).

Racemes single (2/2); paucilateral (2/2); bearing 3–4 fertile spikelets on each (1/1).

Spikelets solitary (3), or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels oblong (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets (1), or 4 fertile florets (2), or 5–7 fertile florets (3), or 8–9 fertile florets (2); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or oblong (3); laterally compressed; 12–16–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (2), or pilose (2). Floret callus brief (1), or evident (3); pilose (3/3).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets (3). Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–0.925–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (1/3), or 1-keeled (2/3); 1–3 -veined (1), or 5–6 -veined (2), or 7 -veined (3), or 8–9 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct. Lower glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex acute (1), or attenuate (3); muticous (3), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate; 1.1–1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels (1/3), or 1-keeled (2/3); 5–6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined, or 8–9 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1). Upper glume apex attenuate (2/2); muticous (3), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (3), or ovate (1); membranous (1), or cartilaginous (3); without keel; wingless; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth (3), or scaberulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (2). Lemma apex dentate (1), or lobed (3); 2 -fid; incised 0.05–0.1833–0.25 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Palea 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels wingless (3), or winged (1); smooth (1), or scaberulous (3). Palea apex dentate (1/1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3 (3/3); glabrous (3/3), or ciliate (1/3). Anthers 2 (1), or 3 (3). Stigmas 2 (2/2), or 3 (1/2). Ovary pubescent on apex (1/3), or pubescent all over (2/3).

FRUIT Hilum linear (2/2); 0.33 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Temperate Asia (2), or North America (1).

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