Uniola

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (2), or short (1), or elongated (2). Stolons absent (4), or present (1). Culms erect; 75–133–200 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Leaves differentiated into sheath and blade (4), or without demarcation between sheath and blade (1). Ligule a fringe of hairs (4), or absent (1). Leaf-blades herbaceous (1), or coriaceous (4); stiff (4), or firm (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; not compacted (4), or in a multilateral false spike (1); unilateral (4), or paucilateral (1). Rhachis angular (2/2). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; 2 -rowed (3/3).

Spikelets solitary (3), or in pairs (2). Fertile spikelets sessile (4), or pedicelled (1); 2 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels oblong (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (3), or 2–3 basal sterile florets, or 4–5 basal sterile florets (3), or 6 basal sterile florets (2); 1–2 fertile florets (1), or 3–6 fertile florets (2), or 7 fertile florets (1), or 10–11 fertile florets (2), or 12 fertile florets (3), or 13–15 fertile florets (2), or 16–20 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–11.9–35 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (4), or ovate (1); 0.66–0.891–1 length of upper glume; membranous (2), or chartaceous (3); 1-keeled; wingless (4), or winged on keel (1); 1 -veined (3), or 3 -veined (2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (3), or distinct (2). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or puberulous (1). Lower glume apex acute (4), or acuminate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (4), or ovate (1); 0.3–0.664–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (2), or chartaceous (3); 1-keeled; wingless (4), or winged on keel (1); 1 -veined (3), or 3 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (1). Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous (1). Upper glume apex acute (4), or acuminate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or ovate (4); coriaceous (4/4); 3–4 -veined (1/4), or 5 -veined (4/4), or 6–7 -veined (2/4), or 8–9 -veined (1/4); acute (4/4). Fertile lemma elliptic (2), or ovate (4); cartilaginous (1), or coriaceous (4); of similar consistency on margins (4), or much thinner on margins (1); keeled; wingless; 3–4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined, or 6–7 -veined (2), or 8–9 -veined (1). Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (1), or scabrous (4). Lemma lateral veins obscure (1/2), or distinct (1/2). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous, or puberulous (1). Lemma margins eciliate (4), or ciliolate (2). Lemma apex truncate (1), or obtuse (1), or acute (3), or acuminate (1); muticous (4), or mucronate (3). Palea 0.75–0.9167–1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (3), or winged (2); smooth (3), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1); eciliate (3), or ciliolate (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (4/4); ellipsoid (2/4), or oblong (1/4), or ovoid (2/4); isodiametric (1/1). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia (1), or North America (2), or South America.

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