Imperata Cirillo

nonem

Morphology General Habit

Perennial. Rhizomes absent (3), or elongated (8). Culms erect (9/10), or geniculately ascending (2/10), or decumbent (1/10); 10-87.59-200 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (6/6). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (10), or erect (2). Ligule an eciliate membrane (3), or a ciliolate membrane (6), or a ciliate membrane (2). Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate (1); herbaceous (10), or coriaceous (1); stiff (8), or firm (3). Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous (1/2), or widened (1/2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme; exserted (10), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1). Panicle contracted (2), or spiciform (10). Racemes bearing few fertile spikelets. Rhachis subterete (10/10). Rhachis internodes filiform. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform (10), or clavate (1); tip widened (1/5), or discoid (4/5).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (6), or elliptic (5), or oblong (1); subterete; 1.5-3.339-6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (6), or elliptic (5), or oblong (1); subterete; 1.5-3.339-6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (9), or oblong (2); membranous; without keels; 3 -veined (5/10), or 4 -veined (3/10), or 5 -veined (7/10), or 6-7 -veined (1/10). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (1), or distinct (10). Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous (1); glabrous (1), or pilose (1), or villous (9). Lower glume apex obtuse (2/3), or acuminate (1/3). Upper glume lanceolate (9), or oblong (2); membranous; with undifferentiated margins (10), or hyaline margins (1); without keels; 3 -veined (5/10), or 5 -veined (4/10), or 6 -veined (3/10), or 7 -veined (4/10). Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous (1); glabrous (1), or pilose (1), or villous (9). Upper glume apex obtuse (1/3), or acute (1/3), or acuminate (1/3).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret linear (1), or oblong (10); hyaline; 0 -veined (9/10), or 1 -veined (1/10); obtuse (8/9), or acuminate (1/9). Fertile lemma linear (1), or ovate (10); hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined (10), or 1 -veined (1). Lemma surface glabrous (10), or puberulous (1). Lemma margins eciliate (10), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex entire (7), or erose (2), or dentate (2); 3 -fid (2/2); obtuse (1/5), or acute (4/5). Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline (9), or membranous (2); 0 -veined (9/9); without keels (9), or 2-keeled (2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules absent (10), or 2 (1). Anthers 1 (7/10), or 2 (3/10). Stigmas 2.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (2/2); obovoid (1/1).

Distribution

Europe (1), or Africa (1), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (2), or North America (4), or South America (6).

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

Morphology General Habit

Rhizomatous perennials with erect few-noded culms

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly basal, the blades narrow and erect; ligule scarious

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a narrow, often spiciform, panicle, its numerous primary branches bearing very short secondary racemes; raceme-rhachis not fracturing at maturity, bearing paired similar spikelets each supported on a slender pedicel

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate to oblong, ± terete, enveloped in long silky hairs from callus and glumes; callus very short, truncate; glumes equal, as long as the spikelet, lanceolate to oblong, membranous; lower floret reduced to a lemma, this lanceolate to oblong, shorter than the spikelet, hyaline; upper floret hermaphrodite; lemma lanceolate to oblong, shorter than the spikelet, hyaline, awnless; stamens 1–2; caryopsis ellipsoid.