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.

Drake-brockmania

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (1). Stolons absent (1), or present (1). Culms decumbent (1), or prostrate (1); 5–24.5–63 cm long; without nodal roots (1), or rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; not compacted, or in a head (1); ascending (1), or spreading (1), or deflexed; oblong, or ovate; unilateral. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets (1), or 8–9 fertile florets, or 10–18 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 6–9.25–14 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets (1), or exceeding apex of florets (1); recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.25–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined (1), or 11–17 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic in profile (1), or ovate in profile (1); chartaceous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined (1), or 5–7 -veined (1). Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute; muticous (1), or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (1), or winged (1); smooth (1), or scabrous (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; trigonous. Embryo 0.4–0.45–0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/1).

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia (1).

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