e-Key v3 - *Microlaena
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Poaceae - Bambusoideae - Ehrharteae - *Microlaena R.Br.

Description :

  • Perennial, weakly tufted, sometimes rhizomatous
  • Leaf blade linear to lanceolate, usually flat; ligule a fringed to unfringed membrane
  • Inflorescence a single raceme or open panicle; spikelets pedicelled
  • Spikelet laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes unequal, similar, reduced to minute lips, membranous, awnless, separated from florets by stipe
  • Florets 3, lower 2 florets sterile, reduced to lemmas; lemma long-acuminate, tapering into a long slender awn, keeled, 5-7-nerved; palea 0; upper floret bisexual, lemma firmer in texture than glumes, 5-7-nerved, mucronate, awned or awnless; awn straight, shorter than body of lemma; callus hairy; palea usually present, membranous
  • Lodicules 2, membranous, glabrous
  • Stamens 2-6
  • Ovary glabrous
  • Caryopsis ellipsoid
  • x = 10

Nomenclature:

  • *Microlaena R.Br.
    • Brown: 210 (1810)
    • Willemse: 181 (1982)
    • Clayton & Renvoize: 76 (1986) included in Ehrharta Thunb.
    • Gibbs Russell et al.: 219 (1990)
    • Watson & Dallwitz: 603 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 10, Philippines, Java to Australia
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: * Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br., naturalised, KwaZulu-Natal

References:

  • BROWN, R. 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen . 1. J. Johnson & Co, London
  • CLAYTON, W.D. & RENVOIZE S.A. 1986. Genera graminum. Grasses of the world. Kew Bulletin . Additional series 13
  • GIBBS RUSSELL, G.E., WATSON, L., KOEKEMOER, M., SMOOK, L., BARKER, N.P., ANDERSON, H.M. & DALLWITZ. M.J. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 58
  • WATSON, L. & DALLWITZ, M.J. 1994. The grass genera of the world , revised edn. CAB International, Oxon
  • WILLEMSE, L.P.M. 1982. A discussion of the Ehrharteae ( Gramineae ) with special reference to the Malasian taxa formerly included in Microlaena . Blumea 28