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.

Beckmannia

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (1). Rhizomes absent (1), or elongated (1). Culms erect; 20–77.5–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; erect, or ascending; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing crowded; 2 -rowed (1/1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex (1). Spikelets orbicular, or obovate (1); laterally compressed; 2.5–3.175–3.7 mm long; falling entire. Floret callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma (1), or firmer than fertile lemma (1). Lower glume ovate (1), or obovate (1); gibbous; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (1); 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1). Upper glume ovate (1), or obovate (1); gibbous; 0.8–1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (1); with undifferentiated margins (1), or hyaline margins (1); 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1); cartilaginous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate (1), or ciliolate (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 0–1 in number (1/1); male (1/1); orbicular (1/1).

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Temperate Asia, or North America (1).

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