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.

Pseudosclerochloa

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent (1/1), or prostrate (1/1); 4–28.5–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths open for most of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades firm (1), or flaccid (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1).

Panicle open (1), or contracted (1).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (1), or 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–5.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus pubescent (1/1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–0.68–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined, or 2–3 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (1). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1). Upper glume ovate; 0.66–0.7175–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (1); membranous; much thinner above; of similar consistency on margins (1), or much thinner on margins (1); without keel (1), or keeled (1); wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or puberulous (1). Lemma apex entire (1), or erose (1); obtuse (1), or acute (1); muticous, or mucronate (1). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (1), or scaberulous (1); eciliate (1), or ciliolate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (1/1). Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe (1), or Temperate Asia, or Australasia (1), or North America (1).

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