Schaffnerella

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 5–12 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; fasciculate. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole oblong; hyaline.

Racemes single; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3–7 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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