Phacelurus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (6), or short (2), or elongated (2). Culms erect (6/6); 20–112.5–250 cm long. Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (1), or a ciliolate membrane (7), or a fringe of hairs (3). Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (9), or lanceolate (2); herbaceous (9), or coriaceous (1). Leaf-blade midrib widened (3/3).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (4), or paired (1), or digitate (4), or borne along a central axis (5). Rhachis tough (9), or fragile at the nodes (1); angular (2), or semiterete (8). Rhachis internodes columnar (3), or oblong (3), or clavate (2), or cuneate (4), or inflated (1); with the lower often bearing triads (1/1). Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat (8), or cupuliform (1), or crateriform (1). Raceme-bases brief (8), or linear (2).

Spikelets appressed (2/2); in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear (4), or columnar (2), or oblong (1), or clavate (3), or cuneate (2), or inflated (2); tip cupuliform (1/1).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary (4), or well-developed; deciduous with the fertile (1), or separately deciduous (9). Companion sterile spikelet callus indistinct (8), or square (1), or oblong (1), or linear (1). Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (2/2), or mucronate (1/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (4), or oblong (1), or ovate (6); dorsally compressed; 0.3–8.346–24 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus brief (8), or square (2), or oblong (1); pubescent (3/3); base truncate; simple (7), or with central peg (3); attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (3), or exceeding apex of florets (7); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1), or oblong (2), or ovate (6); chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (9); without keels (1), or 2-keeled (9); wingless (7), or winged on keel (3); 1–3 -veined (1/2), or 10–12 -veined (1/2). Lower glume intercarinal veins obscure (3/4), or distinct (1/4). Lower glume surface convex (4), or flat (8), or concave (2); smooth (7), or scabrous (2), or spinose (1), or muricate (1); without pits; glabrous (9), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (1), or pilose (2), or hirsute (1), or villous (1). Lower glume apex emarginate (3), or obtuse (5), or acute (4), or acuminate (2), or caudate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (4), or oblong (5), or ovate (1); membranous (1), or chartaceous (9); without keels (2), or 1-keeled (8); 3 -veined (8/8). Upper glume apex acute (2/4), or acuminate (2/4).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (6), or barren (4); with palea (7), or without significant palea (3). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (2/3), or oblong (1/3); hyaline; 2 -veined (4/5), or 5–7 -veined (1/5); acute (1/2), or acuminate (1/2); muticous (2/3), or mucronate (1/3). Fertile lemma lanceolate (9), or oblong (1); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 2 -veined (1/4), or 3 -veined (3/4). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute (1/2), or acuminate (1/2). Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline (9), or membranous (1); 2 -veined (1/1).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (4), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (3).

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