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.

Dissanthelium

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (11). Rhizomes absent (12), or short (1), or elongated (1). Culms erect (3/7), or geniculately ascending (2/7), or decumbent (3/7); slender (1/1); 2–9.803–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades herbaceous (12), or coriaceous (2); stiff (3), or firm (11).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (2), or contracted (4), or spiciform (8).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets, or 3 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.4–3.889–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets (6), or exceeding apex of florets (9); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (9), or oblong (2), or ovate (4); 1 length of upper glume; membranous (12), or chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1); 1-keeled; 3 -veined (12/12). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (1), or distinct (13); without ribs (13), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute (12), or acuminate (2). Upper glume lanceolate (7), or oblong (2), or ovate (6); 1–1.332–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (12), or chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1); with undifferentiated margins (13), or hyaline margins (1); 1-keeled; 3 -veined (12/12). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (13), or ribbed (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (11), or acuminate (2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1), or oblong (2), or ovate (8); chartaceous (13), or cartilaginous (1); of similar consistency above (12), or much thinner above (2); keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (11), or scabrous (3). Lemma surface smooth (9), or asperulous (1), or scaberulous (3), or scabrous (1); unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (10), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (1), or hispidulous (1). Lemma apex entire (13), or dentate (1); 3 -fid (1/1); truncate (2), or obtuse (4), or acute (9), or acuminate (1). Palea keels smooth (13), or scaberulous (3); eciliate (11), or ciliolate (3).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (11/11). Ovary glabrous (11/11).

DISTRIBUTION North America (2), or South America (13).

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