Tribolium

HABIT Annual (5), or perennial (11). Rhizomes absent (14), or short (2). Stolons absent (13), or present (4). Culms erect (6/11), or geniculately ascending (5/11), or decumbent (5/11); 2–22.43–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or filiform (3), or linear (12); herbaceous (15), or coriaceous (1); stiff (2), or firm (13), or flaccid (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle (12), or composed of racemes (4); not deciduous as a whole (15), or deciduous as a whole (1); subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (15), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (9), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (8). Peduncle persistent (15), or disarticulating (1).

Panicle contracted (3/12), or spiciform (8/12), or capitate (1/12).

Racemes single (4/4); linear (3/4), or oblong (1/4); unilateral (4/4). Rhachis angular (3/4), or semiterete (1/4). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (4/4); crowded (1/4), or contiguous (2/4), or lax (1/4); 2 -rowed (4/4).

Spikelets appressed (2/2); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (12), or pedicelled (4). Pedicels linear (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets (6), or 3 fertile florets (11), or 4–5 fertile florets (10), or 6 fertile florets (8), or 7 fertile florets (4), or 8 fertile florets (2), or 9–14 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (7), or ovate (5), or orbicular (2), or cuneate (3); laterally compressed; 2–4.687–10 mm long; falling entire (1), or breaking up at maturity (15); deciduous with accessory branch structures (1/1); disarticulating below each fertile floret (15/15). Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (13), or evident (3); pubescent (1/4), or pilose (3/4).

GLUMES Glumes persistent (15/15); shorter than spikelet (8), or reaching apex of florets (4), or exceeding apex of florets (5); thinner than fertile lemma (3), or similar to fertile lemma in texture (12), or firmer than fertile lemma (1); parallel to lemmas (11), or recurved at apex (1), or gaping (4). Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3), or ovate (12); 0.5–0.91–1 length of upper glume; membranous (6), or chartaceous (2), or herbaceous (1), or coriaceous (7); without keels (4), or 1-keeled (12); 3 -veined (3), or 5 -veined (13), or 6–7 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins without ribs (15), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (8), or pilose (4), or setose (4). Lower glume apex acute (10), or acuminate (7), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (2); muticous (15), or awned (1). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3), or ovate (12); 0.8–1.262–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (7), or herbaceous (1), or coriaceous (8); with undifferentiated margins (15), or hyaline margins (1); without keels (4), or 1-keeled (12); 3 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (14), or 6–7 -veined (1). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (13), or ribbed (3). Upper glume surface glabrous (8), or pilose (4), or setose (4); with tubercle-based hairs (8/8). Upper glume apex acute (9), or acuminate (6), or attenuate (1), or setaceously attenuate (3); muticous (15), or awned (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or oblong (4), or ovate (11); membranous (6), or chartaceous (3), or coriaceous (7); of similar consistency above (15), or much thinner above (1); of similar consistency on margins (11), or much thinner on margins (5); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (11), or 8 -veined (2), or 9 -veined (6). Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate (2). Lemma lateral veins prominent (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (9), or pubescent (5), or pilose (2); with simple hairs (2/7), or capitate hairs (1/7), or clavate hairs (4/7); without hair tufts (12), or with marginal hair tufts (2), or with a transverse row of hair tufts (2), or with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts (1). Lemma margins eciliate (8), or ciliate (7), or setose (1). Lemma apex entire (12), or dentate (1), or lobed (3); 2 -fid (4/4); incised 0.5 of lemma length; obtuse (6/14), or acute (7/14), or acuminate (1/14); muticous (11), or awned (5); 1 -awned (4/5), or 3 -awned (1/5). Principal lemma awn apical (1/5), or from a sinus (4/5); straight (1/5), or curved (1/5), or geniculate (3/5). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined (13/13). Palea keels wingless (13), or winged (3); smooth (14), or scaberulous (2); eciliate (10), or ciliolate (6). Palea surface glabrous (10), or pubescent (4), or pilose (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2 (9/9); fleshy (9/9); glabrous (5/9), or ciliate (5/9); truncate (1/1). Anthers 3 (4/4). Ovary glabrous (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (4/15), or tardily free pericarp (11/15); obovoid (2/2); concavo-convex (2/2). Embryo 0.33–0.415–0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic (1/2), or linear (1/2); 0.25 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Australasia (4).

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