Briza L.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (3), or perennial (20). Rhizomes absent (20), or short (2), or elongated (1). Culms erect, or decumbent (2); 6-51-150 cm long. Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1); firm (22), or flaccid (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open (18), or contracted (6). Spikelets appressed (1/5), or ascending (1/5), or pendulous (4/5); solitary (22), or in pairs (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (6/8), or linear (2/8).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2-6-20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (4), or ovate (11), or orbicular (10), or obovate (2), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed (22), or subterete (1); 2-5.463-25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous (22), or pubescent (1). Floret callus glabrous (1/3), or pubescent (1/3), or pilose (1/3).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2-6-20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (4), or ovate (11), or orbicular (10), or obovate (2), or cuneate (2); laterally compressed (22), or subterete (1); 2-5.463-25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous (22), or pubescent (1). Floret callus glabrous (1/3), or pubescent (1/3), or pilose (1/3).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (10), or orbicular (9); 0.7-0.9478-1 length of upper glume; membranous (18), or chartaceous (3), or herbaceous (2); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (18); 1 -veined (1), or 3 -veined (19), or 4 -veined (5), or 5 -veined (7), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (2), or 8-9 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (22). Lower glume surface smooth (20), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); glabrous (19), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (9/22), or acute (14/22). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or oblong (1), or ovate (11), or orbicular (9); 0.6-0.917-1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (18), or chartaceous (3), or herbaceous (2); with undifferentiated margins (22), or hyaline margins (1); without keels (5), or 1-keeled (18); 3 -veined (16), or 4 -veined (5), or 5 -veined (11), or 7-9 -veined (1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (20), or ciliolate (2), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface smooth (20), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (2); glabrous (19), or puberulous (3), or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (12/22), or acute (11/22).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma elliptic (1), or ovate (3), or orbicular (7), or oblate (10), or trullate (1), or obovate (1); without auricles (14), or auriculate at base (8), or thickened on margins at base (1); laterally compressed (1/1); not gibbous (17), or gibbous (6); membranous (6), or chartaceous (4), or herbaceous (1), or cartilaginous (1), or coriaceous (12); of similar consistency above (19), or much thinner above (4); of similar consistency on margins (5), or much thinner on margins (18); without keel (1), or keeled (22); wingless (18), or winged on margins (5); 3 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (15), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (8), or 8-9 -veined (4). Lemma midvein eciliate (22), or ciliate (1). Lemma lateral veins obscure (1/1). Lemma surface smooth (18), or asperulous (1), or scaberulous (1), or scabrous (1), or papillose (1), or tuberculate (1); glabrous (22), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2); with simple hairs (2/3), or capitate hairs (1/3). Lemma margins flat, or involute (1); eciliate (21), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (1), or pubescent (1). Lemma apex entire (19), or dentate (5); 2 -fid (5/5); truncate (2/14), or obtuse (7/14), or acute (4/14), or cuspidate (3/14); muticous (15), or mucronate (6), or awned (5); 1 -awned (5/5). Principal lemma awn apical (7/11), or from a sinus (4/11). Palea 0.5-0.791-1 length of lemma; membranous (12), or coriaceous (11); 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (18), or winged (5); smooth (22), or scabrous (1); eciliate (15), or ciliolate (7), or ciliate (1). Palea surface glabrous (18), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (3). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (21/21); membranous (13/13); truncate (6/13), or acute (7/13). Anthers 1 (13), or 2 (3), or 3 (12). Ovary glabrous (21/21).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (6/15), or oblong (1/15), or ovoid (1/15), or orbicular (6/15), or obovoid (2/15); plano-convex (2/8), or trigonous (6/8). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (15), or elliptic (8), or linear (1); 0.5 length of caryopsis.

Distribution

Europe (4), or Africa (4), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (5), or Pacific (2), or North America (4), or South America (21).

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips And S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Annuals or perennials

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades flat or rolled

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a loose or contracted panicle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets several- to many-flowered, slightly laterally compressed, broad, often cordate; glumes persistent, subequal, 3–9-nerved; lemmas closely imbricate, broad, cordate at the base, horizontally spreading, papery with broad scarious margins, 7–9-nerved; paleas shorter than the lemmas, 2-keeled, the keels often winged.