Paratheria

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 15–37.5–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a multilateral false spike; appressed; bearing 1 spikelet. Rhachis deciduous from axis; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like. Spikelet packing abaxial. Raceme-bases linear.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8–18.75–27 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1). Upper glume ovate; 0.1–0.15–0.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 7–11 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; wingless; 7 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or South America (1).

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