Swallenia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–11 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1.1–1.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–11 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; villous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface villous. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Embryo 0.66 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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