Taeniatherum

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or decumbent; 5–50 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; oblong; bilateral. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; dorsally compressed; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; exceeding apex of florets; parallel to lemmas, or recurved at apex. Lower glume subulate; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume subulate. Upper glume surface scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear.

FLOWER Ovary with a fleshy appendage below style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; dorsally compressed; apex fleshy. Embryo 0.1 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia, or Australasia, or North America.

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