Lachnagrostis

HABIT Annual (23), or perennial (12). Rhizomes absent (28), or elongated (1). Stolons absent, or present (2). Culms erect (15/21), or geniculately ascending (13/21), or decumbent (1/21); slender (1/1); 5–38.27–90 cm long; without nodal roots (1/1), or rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (2/2), or sparse (2/2). Ligule an eciliate membrane (28), or a ciliolate membrane (1). Leaf-blades filiform (6), or linear (23).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; not deciduous as a whole (16), or deciduous as a whole (13); exserted (23), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (8). Peduncle persistent (16), or fracturing (13).

Panicle open (28), or contracted (2). Primary panicle branches not whorled (19), or whorled at lower nodes (4), or whorled at most nodes (6).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate (10/10).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (7), or with a barren rhachilla extension (27). Spikelets lanceolate (23/28), or elliptic (9/28), or cuneate (1/28); laterally compressed; 1.8–3.841–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus base obtuse (1/1). Floret callus glabrous (4/26), or sparsely hairy (4/26), or pubescent (11/26), or pilose (7/26), or bearded (2/26).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (28); firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate (26), or elliptic (9), or ovate (1); 0.9–1.032–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined (25/25), or 2–3 -veined (1/25). Lower glume lateral veins absent (25), or obscure (1), or distinct (4). Lower glume surface smooth (24), or asperulous (9), or scabrous (4); without pits. Lower glume apex acute (17), or acuminate (16); muticous (28), or mucronate (2), or awned (1). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (26), or elliptic (8), or ovate (1); 1–1.409–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with undifferentiated margins (23), or hyaline margins (6); 1-keeled; 1 -veined (25/25), or 2–3 -veined (1/25). Upper glume surface smooth (22), or asperulous (7), or scabrous (7), or papillose (1). Upper glume apex acute (16/28), or acuminate (16/28); muticous (27), or mucronate (3), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (12), or elliptic (6), or oblong (16), or ovate (2); hyaline (27), or membranous (2); without keel; wingless; 3–4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure (7/7); excurrent (12/17), or extending close to apex (6/17). Lemma surface smooth (26), or asperulous (3), or scaberulous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (14), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (6), or pilose (10), or villous (1). Lemma apex entire (7), or erose (3), or dentate (20); 2–3 -fid (2/20), or 4 -fid (20/20); incised 0.5 of lemma length; truncate (24/24), or acute (1/24); muticous (5), or mucronate (2), or awned (26); 1 -awned (15/15). Principal lemma awn subapical (6/27), or dorsal (21/27); straight (13/27), or curved (2/27), or geniculate (17/27). Palea 0.5–0.8011–1 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined (12/12). Palea keels smooth (28), or scabrous (1). Palea apex entire (2/4), or dentate (4/4); muticous (26), or with excurrent keel veins (3).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (20/20); membranous (20/20); acute (6/6). Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (22/22); oblong (1/1). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (11/11).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (3), or Tropical Asia (1), or Australasia (27), or Pacific (1), or North America (1), or South America (1).

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