Merxmuellera

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (6), or short (1). Culms erect (2/2); 38–78.02–130 cm long. Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (4), or deciduous at the ligule (3); aciculate (3), or linear (4); herbaceous (5), or coriaceous (2); stiff (5), or firm (2). Leaf-blade apex muticous (3), or pungent (4).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (6), or composed of racemes (1).

Panicle open (2/6), or contracted (5/6). Primary panicle branches not whorled (5/6), or whorled at lower nodes (1/6).

Racemes single (1/1); paucilateral (1/1); bearing few fertile spikelets (1/1); bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Spikelet packing lax (1/1).

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (1), or 3 fertile florets (3), or 4 fertile florets (5), or 5 fertile florets (4), or 6–8 fertile florets (2); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–17.78–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (2), or evident (5); pubescent (1/5), or pilose (4/5).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (2), or exceeding apex of florets (5); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (2), or gaping (5). Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9–0.9857–1 length of upper glume; membranous (5), or scarious (2); without keels; 1 -veined (5), or 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (3), or 4–5 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (3), or distinct (4). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (4), or attenuate (1). Upper glume lanceolate; 1.1–1.935–3.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (5), or scarious (2); without keels; 1 -veined (5), or 2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (1). Upper glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (3), or attenuate (2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or oblong (6); chartaceous (6), or coriaceous (1); without keel; wingless; 7–8 -veined (1/6), or 9 -veined (6/6). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (5), or pilose (2); without hair tufts (1), or with marginal hair tufts (3), or with a transverse row of hair tufts (3). Lemma margins eciliate (6), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex entire (1), or dentate (2), or lobed (5); 2 -fid; incised 0–0.386–0.5 of lemma length; acute (2/2); awned; 1 -awned (4), or 3 -awned (3), or 4–5 -awned (1). Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight (2), or geniculate (6). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (1/1). Palea 1–1.5–2 length of lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (6). Palea keels smooth (6), or scaberulous (1); eciliate (4), or pubescent (1), or ciliolate (2). Palea surface glabrous (4), or puberulous (1), or pilose (2). Palea apex dentate (1/1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (6), or distinct from fertile (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (5/5); membranous (2/5), or fleshy (3/5); ciliate (5/5). Anthers 3 (5/5). Ovary glabrous (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (5/5).

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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