Oplismenus

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (4). Culms erect (1), or geniculately ascending (1), or prostrate (6); robust (1/1); 10–53.28–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (4/4). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliate membrane (6). Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate (6); herbaceous (6), or chartaceous (1). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (1), or with obscure cross veins (6).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; linear (6), or cuneate (1); unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets (6); bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing crowded (1), or contiguous (4), or lax (2); 2 -rowed (3/3).

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; subequal, or the lower smaller. Pedicels oblong (6/6).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate (1); laterally compressed; 2–3.464–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.9–0.9857–1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (4), or pubescent (5), or pilose (1). Lower glume apex acute; muticous (1), or awned (6). Upper glume ovate; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined (6/6), or 6–7 -veined (5/6). Upper glume surface glabrous (4), or pubescent (5), or pilose (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (6), or acute (1); muticous (5), or mucronate (2), or awned (5); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea, or without significant palea (6). Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; membranous; 7 -veined, or 8–9 -veined (6), or 10–11 -veined (5); emarginate (5/6), or acute (1/6); muticous (1), or mucronate (6). Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1/6), or 7 -veined (5/6). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament (1), or laterally pinched (6). Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3 (1/1).

FRUIT Hilum linear (1/1); 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (5), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (5), or Australasia (4), or Pacific (3), or North America (4), or South America (4).

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