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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Steinchisma
HABIT Annual (1), or perennial. Rhizomes absent (4), or short (3). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (4), or geniculately ascending (3), or decumbent (3); 15–57.14–150 cm long; firm (5), or wiry (2); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Culm-internodes elliptical in section (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (2/3), or sparse (1/3), or ample (1/3). Ligule an eciliate membrane (2), or a ciliolate membrane (5). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1).
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal, or terminal and axillary (1).
Panicle open (6), or contracted (1).
Spikelets appressed (1/1); solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (4), or oblong (4); laterally compressed (4), or dorsally compressed (3); 1–2.349–4 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (5), or reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (4), or acute (4). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (5), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); membranous; without keels; 3 -veined (4), or 4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (5). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (6), or ribbed (1). Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (3), or acute (5).
FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (2), or barren (5); with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (5); membranous (5), or chartaceous (2); 3 -veined (4/5), or 4 -veined (2/5), or 5 -veined (3/5); obtuse (1/6), or acute (5/6). Palea of lower sterile floret hyaline (1), or becoming indurate on flanks at maturity (6). Fertile lemma elliptic (5), or oblong (2), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed (1/1); coriaceous (6), or indurate (1); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (5), or papillose (2); unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute (6). Palea not rolled (6), or involute (1); coriaceous (6), or indurate (1); without keels (6), or 2-keeled (1).
FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 3 (1/1).
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); oblong (2/2). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa (2), or Australasia (2), or North America (3), or South America (6).
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
