Miscanthus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (7), or short (7), or elongated (3). Culms erect (15), or geniculately ascending (2); reed-like (1/2), or robust (1/2); 30–174.3–700 cm long; without nodal roots (1/1), or with prop roots (1/1). Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/2), or sparse (1/2), or ample (1/2). Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or erect (1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (15). Leaf-blades stiff (2), or firm (14). Leaf-blade midrib widened (2/2). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme (6), or composed of racemes (10).

Panicle open (4/6), or contracted (1/6), or spiciform (2/6).

Racemes digitate (8/10), or borne along a central axis (3/10); erect (1/10), or ascending (10/10), or drooping (3/10); bearing few fertile spikelets (2), or many spikelets (14); bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each (2/2). Rhachis angular (3/13), or subterete (10/13). Rhachis internodes indefinite (4), or filiform (12).

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; tip cupuliform (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (14), or oblong (2), or ovate (1), or obovate (1); dorsally compressed; 2–4.811–8 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pilose (1), or bearded (15); base truncate.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (8), or elliptic (2), or oblong (6); chartaceous (12), or herbaceous (1), or coriaceous (3); without keels (15), or 2-keeled (1); 0–2 -veined (1/14), or 3 -veined (6/14), or 4 -veined (3/14), or 5 -veined (7/14). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or obscure (3), or distinct (12); without ribs (14/15), or ribbed (1/15). Lower glume surface flat; smooth (15), or scabrous (2); without pits; glabrous (8), or puberulous (1), or pilose (6), or hirsute (1), or villous (3). Lower glume apex entire (11), or dentate (7); 2 -fid (7/7); emarginate (3/10), or truncate (3/10), or obtuse (1/10), or acute (1/10), or acuminate (3/10), or attenuate (1/10). Upper glume lanceolate (13), or elliptic (3); chartaceous (12/12); with undifferentiated margins (15), or membranous margins (1); without keels (12/15), or 1-keeled (3/15); 1 -veined (2/13), or 2 -veined (1/13), or 3 -veined (7/13), or 4 -veined (1/13), or 5 -veined (6/13). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (15), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous (1); glabrous (11), or pilose (6), or villous (2). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (8), or acuminate (6), or attenuate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (1), or barren; with palea (1), or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (6), or oblong (9), or ovate (1); hyaline; 0 -veined (5/15), or 1 -veined (7/15), or 3 -veined (3/15); obtuse (2/15), or acute (12/15), or acuminate (1/15). Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline; without keel; wingless; 0 -veined (2/14), or 1 -veined (13/14), or 2–3 -veined (1/14). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (15), or pilose (1). Lemma margins eciliate (9), or ciliolate (3), or ciliate (4). Lemma apex entire (8), or dentate (8), or lobed (2); 2 -fid (10/10); incised 0.25–0.29–0.33 of lemma length; acuminate (1/1); muticous (5), or mucronate (3), or awned (12); 1 -awned (12/12). Principal lemma awn apical (6/14), or from a sinus (9/14); straight (8/14), or geniculate (7/14). Palea present (12), or absent or minute (5); 0.2–0.4622–0.66 length of lemma; hyaline (2/12), or membranous (10/12); 0 -veined (2/2); without keels (1/12), or 2-keeled (11/12). Palea surface glabrous (11/12), or pubescent (1/12).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1); truncate (1/1). Anthers 2 (2/15), or 3 (13/15).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); lanceolate (1/3), or obovoid (2/3).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (3), or Temperate Asia (11), or Tropical Asia (6), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (2), or North America (1), or South America (1).

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