Reederochloa

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 2–11 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–11 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 lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 2–8 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 8 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 10–13 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea tightly convolute around flower; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; of few spikelets. Male spikelets distinct from female; elliptic. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma muticous.

DISTRIBUTION North America.

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