Echinochloa muricata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 80–150 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins spinulose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 8–15; borne along a central axis; spreading; unilateral; 2–8 cm long; with branchlets at base of longer racemes. Central inflorescence axis 10–30 cm long. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing crowded; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; subequal. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; cuspidate; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.33–0.75 length of spikelet; without keels. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; hispidulous; with tubercle-based hairs; cuspidate; muticous, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 5–25 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 3–3.8 mm long; indurate; much thinner above; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; laterally pinched. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or orbicular; 1.2–1.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central. Australasia: Australia. North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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