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
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Biodiversity Advisor, developed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and its Data Partners, is a system that will provide integrated biodiversity information to a wide range of users who will have access to geospatial data, plant and animal species distribution data, ecosystem-level data, literature, images and metadata.
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