Ventenata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (5/5), or geniculately ascending (2/5); slender (2/2); 7–23.03–55 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (6), or composed of racemes (2); exserted (7), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Panicle open (6/6).

Racemes linear (2/2), or lanceolate (2/2); paucilateral (2/2).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels cuneate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (2), or 3 fertile florets (5), or 4 fertile florets (4), or 5–7 fertile florets (2), or 8 fertile florets (1); with a barren rhachilla extension (2), or with diminished florets at the apex (6). Spikelets lanceolate (2), or oblong (5), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 4.5–10.5–19 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the lowest falling with glumes attached. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (7), or pubescent (1). Floret callus evident; pubescent (5/5).

GLUMES Glumes deciduous with pedicel attached; shorter than spikelet (7), or reaching apex of florets (1); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (7), or elliptic (1); 0.5–0.6475–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (6), or 7 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (7); without ribs (6/7), or ribbed (1/7). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (4), or acuminate (4). Upper glume lanceolate (7), or elliptic (1); 0.7–1.037–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined (4), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (4), or 6–7 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (7), or ribbed (1). Upper glume apex acute (4), or acuminate (4).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (2), or elliptic (2), or oblong (4); chartaceous (7), or coriaceous (1); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth (7), or scaberulous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (5), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Lemma apex entire (2), or dentate (4), or lobed (2); 2 -fid (6/6); incised 0.1 of lemma length; acute (3/3); muticous (1), or awned (7); 1 -awned (3/7), or 3 -awned (4/7). Principal lemma awn dorsal (7/7); geniculate (7/7). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (4/4). Palea 0.6–0.775–0.9 length of lemma. Palea keels smooth (7), or scabrous (1); eciliate (5), or ciliolate (2), or ciliate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (6/6).

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Africa (1), or Temperate Asia.

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