Leaf blade
narrow, folded; ligule an unfringed membrane
Inflorescence
a panicle, open or contracted, sometimes almost spike-like; spikelets solitary, shortly pedicelled
Spikelet
3-8 mm long, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes very unequal, shorter than spikelet, oblong, acute to obtuse, membranous, not keeled, awnless; lower glume 1-nerved; upper glume 3-nerved
Florets
2-12, bisexual; uppermost floret reduced, rachilla prolonged; lemma 2 or 3(4) mm long, similar in texture to glumes, membranous, lanceolate, oblong or ovate-oblong, tip scabrous, obtuse or blunt, often ragged, entire, rounded on back, 5-nerved, glabrous or sometimes hairy towards base, awnless; callus glabrous; palea subequalling lemma, lanceolate, 2-keeled, keels scaberulous to ciliate
Global
: Species ± 80, north temperate regions, mainly Asia
Southern Africa
: Species ± 4, Namibia, Free State, Northern and Western Cape
References:
CHIPPINDALL, L.K.A. 1955. A guide to the identification of grasses in South Africa. In D. Meredith,
The grasses and pastures of South Africa
. Central News Agency, Cape Town
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
HUGHES, W.E. & HALLIDAY, G. 1980. In T.G. Tutin,
Flora europaea
5
LAUNERT, E. 1970.
Gramineae
.
Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika
160
PARLATORE, F. 1848.
Flora italiana
1. Le Monnier, Florence
STAPF, O. 1898-1900.
Gramineae
.
Flora capensis
7
WATSON, L. & DALLWITZ, M.J. 1994.
The grass genera of the world
, revised edn. CAB International, Oxon
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