Sehima

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (4). Culms erect (1/2), or geniculately ascending (1/2); 20–83–180 cm long; firm (4), or wiry (1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (1/1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened (4), or semiterete (1). Rhachis internodes columnar (2), or cuneate (3). Rhachis internode tip oblique; cupuliform (1), or crateriform (4).

Spikelets squeezed between internode and pedicel (3), or appressed (2); in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear (1), or cuneate (4); tip rectangular.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes muticous (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1); laterally compressed (2), or dorsally compressed (3); 6–11.1–15 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus square; glabrous (2), or pilose (3); base obtuse; attached obliquely (1), or inserted (4).

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1), or ovate (1); coriaceous; 2-keeled; wingless (2), or winged on keel (3); 5 -veined (1/2), or 8 -veined (1/2). Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct (1), or absent below, prominent above (4). Lower glume surface convex (2), or flat (2), or concave (1), or with a longitudinal median groove (1), or deeply depressed (2); smooth (4), or scabrous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate (1/1); muticous (2), or mucronate (2), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (3), or elliptic (2); chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless (4), or winged on keel (1); 3–4 -veined (1/4), or 5 -veined (3/4), or 7 -veined (1/4). Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (3), or oblong (2); hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or oblong (3); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25–0.342–0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Column of lemma awn glabrous (3), or hispidulous (1), or ciliate (1). Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline; without keels (2), or 2-keeled (3).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (3/3).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (3), or Temperate Asia (2), or Tropical Asia (4), or Australasia (1).

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