| Note - this takes you off
of our website |
GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Pogonarthria
HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (2). Culms erect (2), or geniculately ascending (1), or decumbent (1); robust (1/1); 13–51.25–150 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes borne along a central axis; ascending (3), or spreading (3), or deflexed (1); unilateral. Rhachis deciduous from axis; angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.
Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (3). Pedicels oblong (2/3), or cuneate (1/3).
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets (1), or 4 fertile florets (3), or 5 fertile florets, or 6 fertile florets (2), or 7–10 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (2), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed; 3.3–6.137–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous (3), or rhachilla persistent (1); disarticulating below each fertile floret (2/3), or between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached (1/3); retaining paleas (1/1). Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (3), or elongated below proximal fertile floret (1); definite; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent (3), or deciduous with pedicel attached (1); shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.7312–1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth (3), or scabrous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (1), or attenuate (2). Upper glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.8375–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1). Upper glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (1), or attenuate (2).
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or ovate (2); membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface smooth (1), or asperulous (3); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins eciliate (3), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex acuminate (2), or attenuate (2); muticous (2), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2). Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined (2/2). Palea keels smooth (1), or scaberulous (3); eciliate (3), or ciliolate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3 (1/1).
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate (1/2), or ellipsoid (1/2); isodiametric (1/2), or laterally compressed (1/2); trigonous (2/2). Embryo 0.3–0.35–0.4 length of caryopsis.
DISTRIBUTION Africa.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
