Sphenopholis

HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (6). Culms erect (3/3), or geniculately ascending (1/3); 10–58.92–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane (6), or a ciliolate membrane (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (5), or contracted (3). Primary panicle branches not whorled (6), or whorled at most nodes (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear (4/4).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets (1), or 2 fertile florets, or 3 fertile florets (6); with a barren rhachilla extension (6), or with diminished florets at the apex (1). Spikelets oblong (1), or obovate (6); laterally compressed; 1.5–4.407–9.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (3), or pubescent (4). Floret callus brief (6), or evident (1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma (1), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (6); parallel to lemmas (1), or gaping (6). Lower glume linear (2), or lanceolate (3), or oblong (1), or obovate (1); 0.7–0.9357–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (6), or 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (5), or distinct (2). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1/5), or acute (4/5); muticous, or mucronate (1). Upper glume elliptic (1), or obovate; 0.7–0.88–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined (6), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (2). Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1). Upper glume apex truncate (2), or obtuse (1), or acute (5); muticous, or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (4), or ovate (2); membranous; without keel (6), or keeled (1); wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (4), or scaberulous (3), or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex entire (6), or lobed (1); 2 -fid (1/1); obtuse (2), or acute (6), or setaceously attenuate (1); muticous (5), or mucronate (3), or awned (4); 1 -awned (4/4). Principal lemma awn apical (1/5), or subapical (3/5), or dorsal (1/5); straight (1/5), or curved (3/5), or bigeniculate (1/5). Palea embraced by lemma (1), or gaping (6); 0.66–0.772–0.8 length of lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (6). Palea keels smooth (3), or scaberulous (4). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (1/1).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (2/2). Ovary glabrous (5/5).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (6/6); oblong (4/4). Hilum punctiform (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Pacific (1), or North America, or South America (1).

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