Spartina

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (4), or short (2), or elongated (11). Culms erect; robust (1/1); 15–124.5–350 cm long; spongy (2), or firm (15); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (15), or deciduous at the ligule (1); filiform (3), or linear (13); stiff (1), or firm (15).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf (2).

Racemes paired (1), or digitate (5), or borne along a central axis; not compacted (12), or in a multilateral false spike (4); appressed (9), or erect (5), or ascending (1), or spreading (2); unilateral; bearing 8–26–80 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular; terminating in a spikelet (12), or barren extension (5); extension bristle-like (4/4). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed (9), or pectinate (7); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (15), or pedicelled (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (7), or oblong (11), or ovate (2); laterally compressed; 5–11.87–25 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (4), or exceeding apex of florets (13). Lower glume linear (15), or lanceolate (1); 0.25–0.5459–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined, or 2–3 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (15), or obscure (1), or distinct (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (13), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (3), or pilose (4). Lower glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (12), or acuminate (5); muticous (15), or mucronate (1), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (15), or oblong (1); 1–1.184–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous (15), or scarious (1); with undifferentiated margins (11), or membranous margins (5); 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined (7), or 3 -veined (15), or 4–6 -veined (2), or 7–9 -veined (1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (8), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (5), or pectinately ciliate (1). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1); glabrous (11), or puberulous (5), or pubescent (3), or pilose (4). Upper glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (8), or acuminate (8), or attenuate (1); muticous (15), or mucronate (1), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong (12), or ovate (4); herbaceous; of similar consistency on margins (11), or much thinner on margins (5); keeled; wingless; 1 -veined (5), or 2 -veined (4), or 3 -veined (15), or 4–5 -veined (1). Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (15), or scabrous (1); eciliate (8), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (3), or pectinately ciliate (1). Lemma surface smooth (15), or scaberulous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (13), or puberulous (4), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3). Lemma margins eciliate (14), or ciliolate (4), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex entire (15), or dentate (1); 2 -fid (1/1); emarginate (3/14), or obtuse (7/14), or acute (8/14), or acuminate (2/14). Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (15), or scaberulous (1).

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3. Stigmas plumose (12), or pubescent (4).

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp (4/4); linear (4/4). Embryo 0.6–0.9–1 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (5/5).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (6), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia (2), or Australasia (4), or North America (8), or South America (6), or Antarctica (1).

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