Phleum

HABIT Annual (9), or perennial (6). Rhizomes absent (11), or short (2), or elongated (2). Culms erect (12), or geniculately ascending (9), or decumbent (1); 1–30.96–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (3/3), or sparse (1/3). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades stiff (1), or firm (13), or flaccid (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (12), or an inflated leaf-sheath (5); exserted (14), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Panicle spiciform.

Spikelets spreading (1/1), or deflexed (1/1); solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong (12/12).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (12), or with a barren rhachilla extension (3). Spikelets lanceolate (4), or elliptic (5), or oblong (8), or ovate (1), or obovate (1), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; symmetrical (14), or gibbous (1); 1.5–3.229–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (1), or exceeding apex of florets (14); parallel to lemmas (12), or recurved at apex (2), or gaping (1). Lower glume elliptic (4), or oblong (10), or obovate (1), or cuneate (1); 0.7–0.9867–1 length of upper glume; membranous (13), or coriaceous (2); 1-keeled; wingless (14), or winged on keel (1); 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins without ribs (13), or ribbed (2). Lower glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (3); without pits; glabrous (12), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1). Lower glume apex truncate (6), or obtuse (1), or acute (2), or acuminate (6); muticous (2), or mucronate (3), or awned (10). Upper glume elliptic (4), or oblong (10), or obovate (1), or cuneate (1); 0.8–1.848–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (13), or coriaceous (2); with undifferentiated margins (10), or hyaline margins (4), or membranous margins (1); 1-keeled; 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (4), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (8), or pectinately ciliate (3). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (13), or ribbed (2). Upper glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (3); glabrous (12), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1). Upper glume apex truncate (6), or obtuse (1), or acute (2), or acuminate (6); muticous (2), or mucronate (3), or awned (10); 1 -awned (10/10).

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong (8), or ovate (7); membranous (14), or coriaceous (1); without keel (14), or keeled (1); wingless; 1 -veined (1), or 3–4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (14), or 6–7 -veined (3). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (3), or puberulous (7), or pubescent (6); hairy on back (11/13), or on veins (2/13); with simple hairs (10/13), or clavate hairs (3/13). Lemma apex truncate (4), or obtuse (10), or rostrate (1); muticous (14), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea 0.6–0.95–1 length of lemma. Palea surface glabrous (14), or pubescent (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 2 (1), or 3 (14). Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (1/2), or ovoid (1/2); isodiametric (1/2), or dorsally compressed (1/2). Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (11), or Africa (4), or Temperate Asia (14), or Tropical Asia (4), or Australasia (3), or Pacific (1), or North America (2), or South America (2), or Antarctica (2).

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