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.

Catabrosa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (5), or elongated (1). Stolons absent (5), or present (1). Culms erect (3), or geniculately ascending (2), or decumbent (1), or prostrate (3); 3–30–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (2/2). Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length (2/2). Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted (5), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (2).

Panicle open (5), or contracted (1). Primary panicle branches not whorled (4), or whorled at lower nodes (1), or whorled at most nodes (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (1), or pedicelled (5). Pedicels linear (2/2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets (5), or 3 fertile florets (3); without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension (1). Spikelets elliptic (1), or ovate (5); laterally compressed; 1.5–2.966–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite (5/5). Floret callus glabrous (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; parallel to lemmas (5), or gaping (1). Lower glume elliptic, or ovate (4), or obovate (1); 0.25–0.5875–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (5), or 1-keeled (1); 0–1 -veined (1/2). Lower glume lateral veins absent (2), or distinct (4). Lower glume surface smooth (5), or asperulous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex truncate (2/3), or obtuse (3/3). Upper glume elliptic (1), or ovate (3), or orbicular (1), or obovate (1); 0.15–0.458–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with undifferentiated margins (5), or hyaline margins (1); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (1); 1 -veined (1/2), or 3 -veined (1/2). Upper glume apex truncate (2/3), or obtuse (3/3).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or oblong (4), or obovate (1); membranous (5/5); of similar consistency above (3), or much thinner above (3); of similar consistency on margins (5), or much thinner on margins (1); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins without ribs (4), or ribbed (2); less than two thirds length of lemma (2/2). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous, or puberulous (1); hairy on veins (1/1). Lemma apex entire (4), or erose (2); truncate (2/3), or obtuse (1/3). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (2/2). Palea keels eciliate, or ciliolate (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (2/2); membranous (2/2); with a small lateral lobe (1/1). Anthers 3 (3/3).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); ellipsoid (2/2). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Europe (2), or Africa (2), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (1), or North America (1), or South America (2).

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