Phaenanthoecium

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 10–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing lax.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels, or 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex emarginate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–4 -veined. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; with marginal hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; concavo-convex. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.8 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia.

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