Pseudechinolaena

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent (1), or prostrate (5); 10–23.33–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (4/5), or with aerial roots from the nodes (1/5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (4), or a ciliolate membrane (3). Leaf-blades linear (1), or lanceolate (3), or elliptic (2), or oblong (1), or ovate (1). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (5), or with obscure cross veins (1). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted (5), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Racemes borne along a central axis; ascending (5), or spreading (1); unilateral. Rhachis angular (5), or subterete (1). Spikelet packing crowded (1), or contiguous (3), or distant (2).

Spikelets solitary (1), or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled (5), or pedicelled (2); 1 in the cluster (1/5), or 2 in the cluster (4/5); the lower smaller (5/5). Companion sterile spikelets sessile (1/1); 1 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels oblong (1/1).

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary (1).

Companion sterile spikelets absent (5), or rudimentary (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2.566–5.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (3), or reaching apex of florets (2), or exceeding apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth (5), or asperulous (2); without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (5), or acuminate (1); muticous (3), or mucronate (2), or awned (1). Upper glume ovate; gibbous; herbaceous; without keels (3), or 1-keeled (3); wingless (4), or winged on keel (2), or winged on margins (2); 5 -veined (5), or 7 -veined (1). Upper glume surface smooth (5), or tuberculate (1); glabrous (2), or pubescent (2), or setose (4); with tubercle-based hairs (2), or hooked hairs (4). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (5), or acuminate (1), or caudate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (4), or barren (5); with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (4); chartaceous (4), or coriaceous (2); 3 -veined (4/5), or 5 -veined (1/5); truncate (1), or obtuse (5). Fertile lemma elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (2); laterally compressed; gibbous; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (2/3), or 4 -veined (1/3), or 5 -veined (2/3). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins flat (4), or convolute (2). Lemma apex emarginate (1), or obtuse (1), or acute (4). Palea not rolled (1), or involute (5); coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3 (5/5).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (1/1); lanceolate (1/2), or ovoid (1/2).

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (1), or North America (1), or South America (1).

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