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.

Sacciolepis

HABIT Annual (11), or perennial (14). Rhizomes absent (17), or short (6), or elongated (3). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (6/13), or geniculately ascending (6/13), or decumbent (6/13); slender (1/3), or weak (2/3); 10–59.18–200 cm long; spongy (5), or compressible (1), or firm (18), or wiry (1); without nodal roots (1/6), or rooting from lower nodes (5/6), or with aerial roots from the nodes (1/6). Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/2), or sparse (1/2), or ample (1/2). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (24), or erect (2). Ligule an eciliate membrane (12), or a ciliolate membrane (12), or a fringe of hairs (1), or absent (1). Leaf-blades filiform (2), or linear (23), or lanceolate (1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (24), or pungent (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (1), or contracted (2), or spiciform (24).

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels tip discoid (4/4).

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent (24), or rudimentary (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (1), or ovate (16), or orbicular (1); laterally compressed (22), or subterete (1), or dorsally compressed (2); symmetrical (2), or gibbous (23); 0.7–2.638–5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets (20), or exceeding apex of florets (5); thinner than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas (24), or gaping (1). Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (16), or orbicular (3), or oblate (1); clasping (1/1); hyaline (20), or membranous (5); without keels; 1–2 -veined (1/24), or 3 -veined (12/24), or 4 -veined (3/24), or 5 -veined (12/24), or 6 -veined (5/24), or 7 -veined (8/24), or 8–9 -veined (1/24). Lower glume lateral veins distinct (24), or unequally thickened (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (21), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1), or hirsute (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (14), or acute (16). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (10), or oblong (7), or ovate (9); not gibbous (2), or gibbous (23); 1–1.588–2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (19), or chartaceous (2), or herbaceous (2), or coriaceous (3); with undifferentiated margins (24), or hyaline margins (1); without keels; 5–8–13 -veined. Upper glume primary vein eciliate (24), or ciliate (1). Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous (18), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (8), or hispidulous (1); with simple hairs (9/10), or tubercle-based hairs (1/10). Upper glume apex obtuse (7), or acute (18), or acuminate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (12), or barren (17); with palea (20), or without significant palea (6). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (2), or elliptic (10), or oblong (5), or ovate (10); 1.1 length of fertile lemma; hyaline (1), or membranous (18), or chartaceous (2), or herbaceous (2), or coriaceous (3); 3–4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (6), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (12), or 9 -veined (8), or 11 -veined (1), or 15 -veined (1); without ribs (1), or ribbed (24); obtuse (5), or acute (18), or acuminate (2). Fertile lemma elliptic (15), or oblong (8), or ovate (2); dorsally compressed; chartaceous (3), or coriaceous (21), or indurate (1); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (14/14). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (5/23), or acute (18/23). Palea involute; chartaceous (3), or cartilaginous (2), or coriaceous (19), or indurate (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (2/2); fleshy (2/2). Anthers 2 (1/11), or 3 (10/11).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (5/5); ellipsoid (3/4), or oblong (1/4); plano-convex (1/1). Embryo 0.4–0.5–0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (4/4).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (18), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (7), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (1), or North America (3), or South America (6).

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