Perotis

HABIT Annual (14), or perennial (2). Rhizomes absent (14), or elongated (1). Culms erect (4/14), or geniculately ascending (9/14), or decumbent (5/14); 5–35.06–90 cm long; firm (13), or wiry (2). Lateral branches lacking (1/1), or sparse (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (13), or a fringe of hairs (2). Leaf-blades linear (3), or lanceolate, or ovate (5); stiff (1), or firm (14). Leaf-blade apex muticous (14), or pungent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted (11), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (4).

Racemes single; multilateral. Rhachis angular (1/1). Spikelet packing crowded (8), or contiguous (8), or lax (2), or distant (1).

Spikelets appressed (2), or ascending (9), or spreading (9), or deflexed (1); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (5), or pedicelled (10). Pedicels oblong (8/8); tip cupuliform (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (14), or lanceolate (13), or elliptic (1); laterally compressed (1), or subterete (14); 1.2–4.1–11 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus brief (2), or square (1), or oblong (4), or linear (8); pubescent (3/3); base obtuse (3/5), or acute (1/5), or pungent (1/5).

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear (2), or lanceolate (12), or elliptic (1); 1 length of upper glume; membranous (14/14); without keels (14/14); 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (3); without pits; glabrous (7), or puberulous (2), or pilose (2), or hispidulous (6). Lower glume apex obtuse (2/14), or acute (1/14), or acuminate (12/14); muticous (1), or awned (14). Upper glume linear (2), or lanceolate (12), or elliptic (1); 1.5–2.395–3.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (14/14); without keels (14/14); 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (3); glabrous (7), or puberulous (2), or pilose (2), or hispidulous (6). Upper glume apex obtuse (1/14), or acute (1/14), or acuminate (13/14); muticous (1), or awned (14); 1 -awned (14/14).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; hyaline (14), or membranous (1); without keel (14), or keeled (1); wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse (2), or acute (12), or attenuate (1). Palea hyaline (12), or membranous (3); 0 -veined (3/3); without keels (3), or 2-keeled (12).

FLOWER Anthers 2 (1/14), or 3 (13/14).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (14/14); linear (1/11), or fusiform (9/11), or ellipsoid (1/11); isodiametric (3/12), or laterally compressed (2/12), or dorsally compressed (3/12), or flattened (4/12); biconvex (1/1). Embryo 0.3–0.35–0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (12), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (3).

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