Stenotaphrum

HABIT Annual (2), or perennial (5). Stolons absent (1), or present (6). Culms decumbent (1/3), or prostrate (2/3); slender (1/1); 3–18.5–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear (5), or lanceolate (2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; not deciduous as a whole (4), or deciduous as a whole (3). Peduncle persistent (5), or disarticulating (2).

Racemes single (2), or borne along a central axis (5); in a unilateral false spike (4/5), or in a bilateral false spike (1/5); sunken (3), or appressed (2), or ascending (2); linear (5), or clavate (2); unilateral (5), or bilateral (2); bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each (1), or 2 fertile spikelets on each (3), or 3 fertile spikelets on each (5), or 4 fertile spikelets on each (6), or 5 fertile spikelets on each (5), or 6 fertile spikelets on each (4), or 7–8 fertile spikelets on each (2). Central inflorescence axis unspecialized (1/5), or flattened (1/5), or foliaceous (2/5), or corky (1/5); tough (3/5), or fracturing into irregular segments (2/5); tip with blunt extension (2/5), or subulate (3/5). Rhachis wingless (6), or broadly winged (1); flattened (3/6), or angular (1/6), or subterete (2/6); terminating in a barren extension; extension inconspicuous (2), or flattened (1), or subulate (4). Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed (1/1).

Spikelets sunken (5), or appressed (2); solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets sessile, or sessile and pedicelled (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong (1), or ovate (6); laterally compressed (1), or dorsally compressed (6); 2–3.7–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base (2), or with accessory branch structures (5). Spikelet callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (3), or reaching apex of florets (4); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong (1), or ovate (6); 0.1–0.4667–1 length of upper glume; hyaline (3), or membranous (4); without keels; 0 -veined (3/4), or 5–7 -veined (1/4). Lower glume lateral veins absent (3), or distinct (4). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex entire (6), or lobed (1); 2 -fid (1/1); truncate (1), or obtuse (6), or acute (1). Upper glume ovate; hyaline (2), or membranous (5); without keels; 0 -veined (3), or 7–9 -veined (4). Upper glume apex truncate (1), or obtuse (2), or acute (3), or acuminate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (6), or barren (1); with palea (6), or without significant palea (1). Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong (2), or ovate (5); membranous (2), or coriaceous (5); 3 -veined (2), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (5), or 6 -veined (2), or 7 -veined (3), or 8–9 -veined (2); without grooves (6), or with 2 longitudinal grooves (1); acute (6), or acuminate (1). Palea of lower sterile floret wingless (5/6), or winged on keels (1/6). Fertile lemma lanceolate (3), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); chartaceous (4), or coriaceous (2), or indurate (1); of similar consistency on margins (6), or much thinner on margins (1); without keel; wingless; 3–4 -veined (1/5), or 5 -veined (5/5). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins exposing palea (6), or covering most of palea (1). Lemma apex acute (5), or acuminate (1), or rostrate (1). Palea embraced by lemma (5), or reflexed at apex (2); chartaceous (4), or coriaceous (2), or indurate (1).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa (6), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (4), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (3), or North America (1), or South America (1).

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