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.

Erioneuron

HABIT Perennial. Stolons absent (3), or present (1). Culms 2–25.87–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or linear (3). Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous (3/3).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal (3), or terminal and axillary (1); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (3), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (3), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Panicle spiciform (1), or capitate (3).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (3). Pedicels linear (3/3).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets (1), or 4–6 fertile florets (2), or 7–8 fertile florets (3), or 9–12 fertile florets (2), or 13–18 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10.5–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pilose (3/3).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets (3). Lower glume ovate; 0.9–0.975–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous (3), or mucronate (1). Upper glume ovate; 1–1.275–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous (3), or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate (3), or obovate (1); membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pilose. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex entire (1), or lobed (3); 2 -fid (3/3); incised 0.4–0.4333–0.5 of lemma length; emarginate (1/2), or truncate (1/2), or obtuse (1/2); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight, or curved (1). Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined (3/3). Palea keels eciliate (1), or ciliolate (3). Palea surface glabrous (1), or pilose (3). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (3/3); ovoid (3/3); laterally compressed (3/3); smooth (3/3). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes absent (3), or present (1); in lower sheaths (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION North America, or South America (2).

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