Polypogon

HABIT Annual (11), or perennial (12). Rhizomes absent (22), or elongated (2). Stolons absent (21), or present (3). Culms erect (11/18), or geniculately ascending (10/18), or decumbent (8/18); 2–44.39–120 cm long; without nodal roots (1/2), or rooting from lower nodes (2/2). Culm-nodes constricted (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (3/3), or sparse (1/3). Ligule an eciliate membrane (22), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1). Leaf-blade midrib indistinct (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (22), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (22), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Panicle open (3), or contracted (10), or spiciform (11). Primary panicle branches not whorled (19), or whorled at most nodes (4). Panicle axis bearing persistent branches (22), or deciduous branches (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (3), or pedicelled (21). Pedicels filiform (10/19), or linear (8/19), or oblong (4/19), or cuneate (1/19).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (22), or with a barren rhachilla extension (1). Spikelets lanceolate (3), or elliptic (3), or oblong (8), or cuneate (9); laterally compressed; 1–2.863–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base (8), or with the pedicel (15). Spikelet callus brief (14), or square (5), or oblong (5), or cuneate (2); pubescent (2/2); base obtuse (4/4). Floret callus glabrous (15/17), or pubescent (2/17).

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (3), or exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (6), or recurved at apex (2), or gaping (15). Lower glume lanceolate (10), or elliptic (1), or oblong (12); 0.4–0.9739–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled (22/22); 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth (4), or asperulous (7), or scabrous (12); without pits; glabrous (21), or pilose (1), or hispidulous (1). Lower glume apex entire (20), or dentate (2), or lobed (1); 2 -fid (3/3); emarginate (6/20), or truncate (1/20), or obtuse (4/20), or acute (7/20), or acuminate (4/20), or attenuate (1/20); muticous (7), or mucronate (1), or awned (16). Upper glume lanceolate (10), or elliptic (1), or oblong (12); 1–1.814–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled (22/22); 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (22), or pectinately ciliate (1). Upper glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (8), or scabrous (12); glabrous (21), or pilose (1), or hispidulous (1). Upper glume apex entire (20), or dentate (2), or lobed (1); 2 -fid (3/3); emarginate (6/20), or truncate (1/20), or obtuse (7/20), or acute (5/20), or acuminate (4/20), or attenuate (1/20); muticous (7), or mucronate (1), or awned (16); 1 -awned (16/16).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or oblong (16), or ovate (5); hyaline (8), or membranous (8), or chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (7); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure (6/6); excurrent (6/8), or extending close to apex (2/8). Lemma surface smooth (21), or asperulous (1), or scaberulous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (22), or pubescent (1). Lemma apex entire (5), or erose (3), or dentate (14), or lobed (1); 2 -fid (3/15), or 3 -fid (1/15), or 4 -fid (12/15); incised 0.33 of lemma length; emarginate (1/17), or truncate (14/17), or obtuse (2/17), or acute (1/17); muticous (9), or mucronate (2), or awned (16); 1 -awned (16/16). Principal lemma awn apical (1/18), or subapical (5/18), or from a sinus (10/18), or dorsal (3/18); straight (15/18), or curved (1/18), or geniculate (3/18). Palea 0.25–0.7555–1 length of lemma; hyaline; 0 -veined (5/19), or 2 -veined (14/19); without keels (1), or 2-keeled (22). Palea apex muticous (22), or with excurrent keel veins (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (18/18); membranous (18/18). Anthers 1 (1), or 3 (22).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (22/22); fusiform (2/9), or oblong (4/9), or ovoid (1/9), or obovoid (2/9). Embryo 0.25–0.31–0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (8/8).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (3), or Africa (8), or Temperate Asia (8), or Tropical Asia (5), or Australasia (7), or Pacific (4), or North America (6), or South America (12), or Antarctica (3).

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