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.

Zeugites

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (9). Rhizomes absent (8), or short (2), or elongated (1). Culms erect (8), or geniculately ascending (2), or rambling (2); robust (2/3), or slender (1/3); 25–154.3–400 cm long; firm (9), or wiry (1). Lateral branches lacking (1/6), or sparse (3/6), or ample (2/6). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (8), or erect (2). Ligule an eciliate membrane (9), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (4), or with a false petiole (6). Leaf-blades lanceolate (5), or elliptic (4), or oblong (2), or ovate (3). Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (9), or terminal and axillary (1).

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; tip cupuliform (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets, or 2 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (1), or oblong (7), or ovate (3); laterally compressed; 5–10.3–20 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (8), or elongated between glumes (2); definite (1/1). Floret callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (9), or reaching apex of florets (2); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong (1), or orbicular (1), or obovate (8); not gibbous (9), or gibbous (1); 1–1.19–2.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (6), or 8 -veined (3), or 9 -veined (7), or 10–11 -veined (3). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (8), or pubescent (3). Lower glume apex entire (6), or erose (2), or dentate (2); 3–5 -fid (1/2), or 7 -fid (1/2); truncate (5/6), or obtuse (1/6). Upper glume oblong (3), or obovate (5), or cuneate (2); not gibbous (7), or gibbous (3); 0.66–0.7345–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (6), or 8–9 -veined (3), or 10–11 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous (8), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Upper glume apex entire (7), or erose (3); truncate (6/9), or obtuse (2/9), or acute (1/9).

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma oblong (5), or ovate (3), or oblate (1), or obovate (1); not gibbous (1), or gibbous (9); cartilaginous; keeled; wingless; 7 -veined (2/6), or 8 -veined (1/6), or 9 -veined (4/6), or 10 -veined (3/6), or 11 -veined (4/6), or 12–13 -veined (1/6). Lemma surface smooth (9), or asperulous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (9), or puberulous (1). Lemma margins eciliate (9), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex entire (8), or erose (2); emarginate (1), or truncate (2), or obtuse (4), or acute (2), or rostrate (2); without ornament (8), or pubescent (2); muticous, or mucronate (1). Palea 0.9–1–1.1 length of lemma. Palea keels eciliate (9), or ciliate (1). Apical sterile florets 1–6–14 in number; male; elliptic (1), or ovate (9). Apical sterile lemmas muticous, or mucronate (1).

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (8/8); fusiform (1/2), or orbicular (1/2).

DISTRIBUTION North America (9), or South America (4).

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