Phalaris L.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Glumes usually glabrous, papery, boat-shaped, keeled, the keel often broadened into a wing; sterile florets up to about half as long as the fertile lemma, subulate or chaffy, usually pubescent, sometimes 1 or both reduced to a fleshy scale at the base of the fertile floret; fertile lemma glabrous or pubescent, often shiny.

nonem

Morphology General Habit

Annual (11), or perennial (6). Rhizomes absent (13), or short (2), or elongated (2). Culms erect (6/6), or geniculately ascending (4/6); 10-88.52-200 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades firm (16), or flaccid (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath (16), or an inflated leaf-sheath (1); exserted (16), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1). Panicle contracted (1), or spiciform (16), or capitate (2). Panicle axis bearing persistent branches (16), or deciduous spikelet clusters (2). Spikelets appressed (2/3), or ascending (1/3); solitary (16), or subtended by an involucre (2). Fertile spikelets sessile (10), or pedicelled (8); 1 in the cluster (2/2), or 2 in the cluster (1/2). Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled (2/2); 5 in the cluster (1/2), or 6 in the cluster (2/2). Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets (2/2). Pedicels linear (1/1); tip cupuliform (1/1).

Sterile

Companion sterile spikelets absent (15), or well-developed (2); deciduous with the fertile (2/2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic (1), or ovate (2), or obovate (14); laterally compressed; 2.9-6.046-10 mm long; falling entire (2), or breaking up at maturity (16); deciduous with accessory branch structures (2/2); disarticulating below each fertile floret (16/16). Companion sterile spikelets absent (15), or well-developed (2); deciduous with the fertile (2/2).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic (1), or ovate (2), or obovate (14); laterally compressed; 2.9-6.046-10 mm long; falling entire (2), or breaking up at maturity (16); deciduous with accessory branch structures (2/2); disarticulating below each fertile floret (16/16).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent (16/16); exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (15), or ovate (1); 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless (5), or winged on keel (14); 3 -veined (16/16), or 4-5 -veined (6/16). Lower glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (3), or scabrous (3); glabrous (16), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3). Lower glume apex truncate (4), or obtuse (1), or acute (11), or acuminate (4), or setaceously attenuate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (15), or ovate (1); 1.2-1.52-3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; wingless (4), or winged on keel (15); 3 -veined (16/16), or 4-5 -veined (6/16). Upper glume surface smooth (11), or asperulous (3), or scabrous (3); glabrous (16), or pubescent (1), or pilose (3). Upper glume apex truncate (4), or obtuse (1), or acute (11), or acuminate (4), or setaceously attenuate (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren (14/14); without significant palea (14/14). Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate (3/13), or linear (7/13), or lanceolate (1/13), or ovate (2/13); 0.1-0.3895-0.75 length of fertile lemma; membranous (2/4), or fleshy (2/4); acute (3/3). Fertile lemma elliptic (15), or ovate (2); laterally compressed (15/16), or subterete (1/16); cartilaginous (16), or coriaceous (1); keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (15). Lemma apex obtuse (1), or acute (15), or acuminate (1). Palea cartilaginous (16), or coriaceous (1); 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (14).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (10/10); membranous (10/10). Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous (15/15).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (15/15). Hilum linear (15/15).

Distribution

Europe (8), or Africa (10), or Temperate Asia (8), or Tropical Asia (6), or Australasia (7), or Pacific (4), or North America (9), or South America (11), or Antarctica (1).