Poecilostachys

HABIT Annual (3), or perennial (13). Rhizomes absent (15), or elongated (1). Culms erect (2), or geniculately ascending (3), or decumbent (5), or prostrate (5), or rambling (4); slender (2/2); 18–53.47–200 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (6/6). Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches sparse (1/5), or ample (5/5). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (12), or erect (5). Ligule an eciliate membrane (5), or a ciliolate membrane (5), or a ciliate membrane (6). Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or linear (2), or lanceolate (14), or oblong (1). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (14), or with obscure cross veins (2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (1), or borne along a central axis (15); erect (1), or ascending (14), or spreading (1); unilateral (15/15); bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets (15). Rhachis angular (15/15). Spikelet packing crowded (2), or contiguous (11), or lax (3).

Spikelets solitary (4), or in pairs (14). Fertile spikelets sessile (2), or sessile and pedicelled (6), or pedicelled (8); 1 in the cluster (3/14), or 2 in the cluster (14/14); subequal (11/11), or the lower smaller (10/11). Pedicels tip cupuliform (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (15/15); 1 fertile florets (15/15); without rhachilla extension (15/15). Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (9), or oblong (8); laterally compressed; 4.15–5.914–8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma (15), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (1). Lower glume lanceolate (10), or ovate (7); 1–1.05–1.1 length of upper glume; membranous (13/15), or herbaceous (2/15); without keels (2/15), or 1-keeled (13/15); 3 -veined (5), or 4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (12), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (4). Lower glume surface smooth (13), or asperulous (2), or scabrous (1); without pits; glabrous (12), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3), or setose (1). Lower glume apex truncate (2/13), or obtuse (1/13), or acute (7/13), or acuminate (3/13); muticous (4), or mucronate (4), or awned (12). Upper glume lanceolate (9), or oblong (2), or ovate (6); membranous (13/15), or herbaceous (2/15); without keels (3/15), or 1-keeled (12/15); 3 -veined (4), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (11), or 6 -veined (4), or 7 -veined (6). Upper glume surface smooth (15), or asperulous (1); glabrous (12), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2), or pilose (1), or setose (1); with simple hairs (4/5), or tubercle-based hairs (1/5). Upper glume apex truncate (1/15), or obtuse (3/15), or acute (9/15), or acuminate (2/15); muticous (12), or mucronate (5), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea (2), or without significant palea (15). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (7/15), or elliptic (4/15), or ovate (5/15); membranous (13/14), or herbaceous (1/14); 5 -veined (8/14), or 6 -veined (3/14), or 7 -veined (9/14), or 8–9 -veined (1/14); obtuse (2/14), or acute (11/14), or attenuate (1/14); muticous (14/15), or mucronate (1/15). Fertile lemma lanceolate (6), or elliptic (1), or oblong (2), or ovate (7); laterally compressed; chartaceous (1), or cartilaginous (14), or coriaceous (1); without keel (15), or keeled (1); wingless; 3 -veined (3/7), or 5 -veined (4/7). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins flat (2), or involute (1), or convolute (13); exposing palea (3), or covering most of palea (13). Lemma apex obtuse (1/15), or acute (12/15), or acuminate (1/15), or attenuate (1/15). Palea not rolled (1), or involute (15); membranous (1), or cartilaginous (14), or coriaceous (1); 2 -veined (8/8); without keels (10), or 2-keeled (6).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (7/7).

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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