Neostapfia

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–30 cm long. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades viscid; aromatic.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; multilateral. Rhachis subterete; terminating in a sterile spikelet. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; subterete; 4–6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma flabellate; membranous; without keel; wingless; 7–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2; sparsely hairy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; laterally compressed. Embryo 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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