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.

Desmazeria

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (1), or geniculately ascending, or decumbent (2); 7–15.83–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (2), or composed of racemes (2).

Panicle open (2/2).

Racemes single (2/2); linear (1/2), or oblong (1/2); unilateral (2/2). Rhachis angular (2/2). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (2/2); 2 -rowed (1/1).

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (2). Pedicels oblong (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets (1), or 5 fertile florets (2), or 6–7 fertile florets (1), or 8–20 fertile florets (2), or 21–30 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (1), or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–12.16–28 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; glabrous (1), or pubescent (2).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong (2), or ovate (1); 0.75–0.775–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (1). Upper glume oblong (2), or ovate (1); 0.7–0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (1), or ribbed (2). Upper glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; ovate in profile (1/1); coriaceous; of similar consistency on margins (2), or much thinner on margins (1); keeled; wingless; 5 -veined (2), or 7 -veined (1). Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (1), or scaberulous (2). Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates (2/2). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pubescent (2); with capitate hairs (2/2). Lemma apex obtuse (2), or acute (1); muticous, or mucronate (1). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (2), or winged (1); smooth (2), or scaberulous (1); eciliate (2), or ciliolate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong (2/2); dorsally compressed (2/2); concavo-convex (1/1). Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Africa, or Temperate Asia (1).

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