Schismus

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (2). Culms erect (1/4), or geniculately ascending (2/4), or decumbent (3/4); 3–19.6–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate (2), or filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear (4/4); tip widened (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets (1), or 4 fertile florets (3), or 5 fertile florets, or 6 fertile florets (4), or 7–8 fertile florets (2), or 9–10 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (4), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 4–5.35–7 mm long; falling entire (3), or breaking up at maturity; deciduous with the pedicel (3/3); disarticulating below each fertile floret (2), or between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached (3). Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (4), or evident (1); pubescent (2/3), or pilose (1/3).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (2), or deciduous with pedicel attached (3); shorter than spikelet (4), or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (4); parallel to lemmas (2), or gaping (3). Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1), or ovate (2); 1–1.04–1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (4), or 1-keeled (1); 3 -veined (1), or 5–7 -veined (4). Lower glume lateral veins without ribs (1), or ribbed (4). Lower glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1); 1.2–1.66–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with undifferentiated margins (3), or hyaline margins (2); without keels (4), or 1-keeled (1); 3 -veined (3), or 4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (4). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (1), or ribbed (4). Upper glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); membranous (4), or chartaceous (1); of similar consistency above (1), or much thinner above (4); of similar consistency on margins (1), or much thinner on margins (4); without keel; wingless; 7–8 -veined (2), or 9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (3); without hair tufts (4), or with a transverse fringe of hair (1). Lemma margins eciliate (3), or ciliate (2). Lemma apex dentate (2), or lobed (3); 2 -fid; incised 0.15–0.3717–0.5 of lemma length; obtuse (1/3), or acute (1/3), or acuminate (1/3); muticous (1), or mucronate (4), or awned (1); 3 -awned (1/1). Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight (4), or geniculate (1). Palea 0.75–0.875–1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (4/4). Palea keels eciliate (3), or ciliolate (2). Palea surface glabrous (2), or pubescent (1), or pilose (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous (4/4).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid (2/2). Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Africa, or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (2), or North America (2), or South America (2).

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