Munroa

HABIT Annual. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 5–8.8–15 cm long. Culm-internodes alternately elongated and bunched. Lateral branches ample (4/4). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; terminal and axillary; not deciduous as a whole (3), or deciduous as a whole (2); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (2), or an inflated leaf-sheath (3); embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle persistent (3), or disarticulating (2).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets (2), or 4–5 fertile florets (1), or 6–8 fertile florets (2), or 9–10 fertile florets (1); with a barren rhachilla extension (1), or with diminished florets at the apex (4). Spikelets lanceolate (1), or oblong (4); laterally compressed; 4–5.35–10 mm long; falling entire (2), or breaking up at maturity (3); deciduous with accessory branch structures (2/2); disarticulating below each fertile floret (3/3). Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pubescent (4/4).

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure (1), or two (4); persistent (3/3); shorter than spikelet (3/4), or reaching apex of florets (1/4); thinner than fertile lemma (4/4). Lower glume linear (2/4), or lanceolate (2/4); 0.5–0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous (4/4); without keels (4/4); 1 -veined (4/4). Lower glume lateral veins absent (4/4). Lower glume surface without pits (4/4). Lower glume apex acute (1/4), or acuminate (3/4). Upper glume linear (1/4), or lanceolate (3/4); 0.9–1.05–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (4/4); without keels (3/4), or 1-keeled (1/4); 1 -veined (4/4). Upper glume apex obtuse (1/4), or acute (2/4), or acuminate (1/4); muticous (3/4), or mucronate (1/4).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (2), or oblong (1), or cuneate (2); chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent (2/3), or extending close to apex (2/3). Lemma surface smooth (1), or granulose (3), or scaberulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; without hair tufts (2), or with marginal hair tufts (2), or with tufts of hair on midvein (2). Lemma margins eciliate (3), or ciliate (2). Lemma apex entire (1), or dentate (2), or lobed (2); 2 -fid (1/4), or 3 -fid (2/4), or 4 -fid (1/4); incised 0.2–0.35–0.5 of lemma length; truncate (1/2), or obtuse (1/2); awned; 1 -awned (4), or 3 -awned (1). Principal lemma awn apical (2), or from a sinus (3). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (1/1). Palea surface glabrous (4), or pubescent (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (4/4).

FLOWER Anthers 2 (4), or 3 (1). Stigmas 2; plumose (3), or papillose (2).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform (1), or ovoid (4); laterally compressed (4/4); smooth. Embryo 0.33–0.4433–0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America (1), or South America (4).

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