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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.
Ophiochloa
HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (1). Culms erect (1), or geniculately ascending (1); 3–33.12–78 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length (1/1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal (1), or terminal and axillary (1).
Racemes single; ascending (1), or drooping (1); unilateral. Rhachis narrowly winged (1), or broadly winged (1); membranous (1/1); folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; terminating in a barren extension. Spikelet packing adaxial.
Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 1.4–2.1–3.1 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate (1), or ovate (1); hyaline; without keels; 2 -veined (1/1). Upper glume surface asperulous (1), or scabrous (1). Upper glume apex entire (1), or erose (1); acute.
FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; 2 -veined; emarginate (1), or acute (1); awned. Fertile lemma oblong (1), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; membranous; of similar consistency above (1), or much thinner above (1); without keel; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins exposing palea (1), or covering most of palea (1). Lemma apex acute. Palea embraced by lemma (1), or gaping (1); 1 length of lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (1); 2 -veined. Palea apex dentate.
FLOWER Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 2. Stigmas 2 (1/1).
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong (1), or ovoid (1), or obovoid (1). Embryo 0.33–0.4325–0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1), or elliptic; 0.25 length of caryopsis.
DISTRIBUTION South America.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 16th November 2012.
