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.

Plinthanthesis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect (1/2), or decumbent (1/2); 25–39.16–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (1), or 3 fertile florets, or 4–5 fertile florets (1); without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension (1). Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet (1), or reaching apex of florets (2), or exceeding apex of florets (1); gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth (1), or asperulous; without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.7–2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth (1), or asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; chartaceous; much thinner above; of similar consistency on margins (2), or much thinner on margins (1); without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent (2), or pilose (1); hairy between veins. Lemma apex dentate (1), or lobed (2); 2 -fid; incised 0.25–0.375–0.5 of lemma length; obtuse (2/2), or acute (2/2); muticous (1), or mucronate (1), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2). Principal lemma awn apical (1), or from a sinus (2); straight (1), or curved (1), or geniculate (1). Palea 0.9–1–1.1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (1), or scaberulous (2); eciliate (2), or ciliolate (1). Palea surface pubescent (2), or pilose (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (1/1). Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

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