Poaceae

Phragmites Adans.

First published in Fam. Pl. 2: 34, 559 (1763)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Temp. & Subtropical to Tropical Mountains.

Descriptions

Gramineae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 10:1. 1971

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets pedicelled, solitary, 3-11-flowered, laterally compressed, muticous, gaping at maturity; rhachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets; inferior floret sterile or male, the following bisexual but the uppermost usually reduced.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 3-5-nerved, sometimes with cross-veins, subequal to unequal, persistent, membranous, lanceolate, obovate to oblong, dorsally rounded, apex acute, subacute or sometimes obliquely truncate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Lemmas heteromorphous, dorsally rounded, always glabrous, membranous; the inferior much longer than the inferior glume, usually persistent, 3 (sometimes 5-7-) nerved, linear-lanceolate, lanceolate-oblong or oblong, rather acute; the following (fertile), caducous, 3-1-nerved, linear lanceolate, with the apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate, thinly membranous; callus slender, straight or slightly curved, obtuse, densely bearded with long soft silky hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Palea
Paleas much shorter than the corresponding lemmas, 2-keeled, oblong, hyaline.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Lodicules
Lodicules 2, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3 (2 in the inferior floret if present).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary glabrous; styles distinct, rather short; stigmas plumose, laterally exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis oblong in outline, semiterete, loosely enclosed between the lemma and palea; hilum basal, oblong, small; embryo about 1/2 as long as the caryopsis.
Morphology General Habit
Stout aquatic or semi-aquatic perennials with creeping much-branched rhizomes.
Morphology Stem
Culms rather tall, robust, sheathed.
Morphology Leaves Ligules
Ligule a short membrane, densely ciliate along the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a dense or loose many-flowered panicle.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Aquatic or semi-aquatic perennials, with usually tall culms
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades linear to narrowly lanceolate, flat, deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Panicles large, dense, profusely branched, silkily hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets 3–11-flowered, the lowest floret ♂ or barren, the following hermaphrodite, the uppermost ± reduced; rhachilla bearded above with long silky hairs; glumes 3–5-nerved; lemmas narrow, rounded or slightly keeled on the back, glabrous; lowest lemma much longer than the glumes, 3–7-nerved, ± persistent; fertile lemmas acuminate, 1–3-nerved; lodicules 2; stamens 3, or 2 in the lowest floret.
[FTEA]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Tall rhizomatous perennial reed; leaves cauline, the blades deciduous; ligule a very short membrane with a long-ciliate margin
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Panicle large, plumose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets with lowest floret male or empty; glumes shorter than the lowest lemma, 3- to 5-nerved; floret-callus linear, plumose; fertile lemmas hyaline, 1- to 3-nerved, glabrous, long-caudate (though very fragile and the long narrow tip often breaking off), entire.
Distribution
Three or four species worldwide.
[FSOM]

nonem

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons absent (3), or present (1). Culms erect; reed-like; 100-406.2-1000 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; linear (3), or lanceolate (1).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 3-4 fertile florets, or 5-11 fertile florets (3); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7-11.75-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; bearded.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 3-4 fertile florets, or 5-11 fertile florets (3); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7-11.75-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; bearded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (1); 0.5-0.625-1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute (3), or cuspidate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (1); 0.4-0.5875-0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute (3), or cuspidate (1); muticous, or mucronate (1).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or elliptic (3); 1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 3-7 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma lanceolate; membranous; without keel; 1-3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth (1), or scaberulous (3). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous (3/3).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum elliptic (3/3).
Distribution
Europe (1), or Africa (3), or Temperate Asia (3), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia (2), or Pacific (2), or North America (1), or South America (1).
[GB]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0