Polytrias

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 10–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; cartilaginous; 2-keeled; 6 -veined. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct. Lower glume surface without pits; pilose. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; firmer above; without keel; wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2–3 -fid; incised 0.3 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia, or Australasia, or Pacific, or South America.

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