Echinaria

HABIT Annual. Culms 4–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle capitate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 2-keeled; 2 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse; mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex emarginate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 5–7 -fid; awned; 5–7 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; pungent. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex awned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; laterally compressed. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia.

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