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.

Crypsis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect (3/9), or geniculately ascending (3/9), or decumbent (3/9), or prostrate (3/9); 1–19.35–90 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/6), or sparse (1/6), or ample (5/6). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (7), or deciduous at the ligule (3); stiff (4), or firm (6).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (3), or an inflated leaf-sheath (4), or a spatheole (3), or sheathless blades (3); exserted (2), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (8), or enclosed (3).

Panicle spiciform (4), or capitate (6).

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets sessile, or sessile and pedicelled (1).

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent (8), or well-developed (2).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (2), or elliptic (7), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 2–3.721–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet (7), or reaching apex of florets (4). Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75–0.9325–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (7), or acuminate (2), or caudate (1); muticous (8), or awned (2). Upper glume lanceolate (9), or ovate (2); 0.7–0.9125–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (5), or ciliolate (5). Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (7), or acuminate (2), or caudate (1); muticous (8), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate (8), or ovate (2); laterally compressed (9/9); membranous; keeled; wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein without distinctive roughness (9), or scabrous (1); eciliate (9), or ciliate (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse (1/9), or acute (7/9), or caudate (1/9); muticous (8), or awned (2); 1 -awned (2/2). Palea 0 -veined (1), or 1 -veined (2), or 2 -veined (9). Palea apex dentate (1/1).

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2 (2), or 3 (9).

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp (9/9); ellipsoid (5/7), or oblong (3/7), or ovoid (1/7), or obovoid (2/7); apex unappendaged (8/8). Embryo 0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (5), or Africa (4), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (1), or North America (3).

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