Brachypodium P.Beauv.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets subsessile, solitary, several- to many-flowered, at first cylindric, later elatrally slightly compressed, usually awned.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets hermaphrodite, all fertile but the uppermost usually reduced.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes unequal, 3-7(-9)-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Lemmas 7-9-nerved, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, densely imbricate at first, later somewhat spreading, mucronate or with a straight awn, dorsally rounded: callus very short, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Palea

Paleas slightly shorter than the corresponding lemmas, oblong, with the apex broadly obtuse to truncate, 2-keeled, pectinate-ciliate along the keels.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Lodicules

Lodicules 2, lanceolate, with the apex usually truncate, ciliate or more rarely glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3, rarely 2.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary with a villous apical appendage or simply hairy; styles inserted at the appendage, short; stigmas plumose, laterally exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis oblong to linear in outline, convex-concave, with an apical ciliate appendage, usually tightly enclosed by the palea; hilum filiform, very long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a simple terminal raceme (pseudo-spike), with the spikelets alternating in 2 rows on opposite sides of the rhachis. Rhachilla disarticulating above the glumes and between the florets, glabrous, smooth.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial or more rarely annual grasses of varying habits, often rhizomatous.

Morphology Leaves Ligules

Ligule membranous.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (1), or perennial (15). Rhizomes absent (13), or short (1), or elongated (2). Stolons absent (14), or present (2). Culms erect (9/14), or geniculately ascending (9/14), or decumbent (3/14); 3-49.78-150 cm long; firm (12), or wiry (4); rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (2/4), or sparse (2/4), or ample (1/4). Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate (1), or filiform (1), or linear (13), or lanceolate (1); stiff (2), or firm (11), or flaccid (4).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes (15), or comprising only a few spikelets (1). Racemes single (15/15); erect (4/15), or ascending (11/15), or drooping (3/15); bilateral (15/15); bearing few fertile spikelets (15/15); bearing 1-5-15 fertile spikelets on each. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (15/15); crowded (1/15), or contiguous (2/15), or lax (12/15); 2 -rowed (8/8). Spikelets appressed (2/7), or ascending (6/7), or spreading (1/7); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile (2), or pedicelled (14). Pedicels linear (3/9), or oblong (7/9), or cuneate (1/9).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 2-10-22 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (9), or elliptic (1), or oblong (9), or ovate (1); laterally compressed (15), or subterete (1); 9-24.84-42 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous (15), or pilose (1). Floret callus glabrous (2/2), or pubescent (1/2).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 2-10-22 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (1), or lanceolate (9), or elliptic (1), or oblong (9), or ovate (1); laterally compressed (15), or subterete (1); 9-24.84-42 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous (15), or pilose (1). Floret callus glabrous (2/2), or pubescent (1/2).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate (12), or elliptic (1), or oblong (3), or ovate (1); 0.5-0.7381-1 length of upper glume; membranous (14), or chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 3 -veined (3), or 4 -veined (2), or 5 -veined (14), or 6-7 -veined (5), or 8-11 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins distinct (15), or prominent (1); without ribs (15), or ribbed (1). Lower glume surface glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Lower glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (10), or acuminate (5). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate (10), or elliptic (1), or oblong (5), or ovate (2); 0.5-0.8641-1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (14), or chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); without keels; 5 -veined (4), or 6 -veined (3), or 7 -veined (14), or 8 -veined (4), or 9 -veined (5). Upper glume lateral veins without ribs (15), or ribbed (1). Upper glume surface glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (2). Upper glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (10), or acuminate (5).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Fertile lemma lanceolate (4), or elliptic (1), or oblong (12); laterally compressed (1/1); membranous (4/9), or chartaceous (4/9), or coriaceous (1/9); without keel; 5 -veined (2), or 6 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (15), or 8-9 -veined (1). Lemma lateral veins prominent (2/2). Lemma surface smooth (12), or scaberulous (3), or scabrous (1); glabrous (14), or puberulous (1), or pubescent (4), or pilose (2). Lemma margins eciliate (15), or ciliolate (1). Lemma apex obtuse (4), or acute (11), or acuminate (2); muticous (4), or mucronate (1), or awned (13); 1 -awned (13/13). Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels eciliate (5), or pubescent (1), or ciliolate (11). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2 (2/2); glabrous (1/2), or ciliate (1/2). Anthers 3 (15/15). Ovary unappendaged (4), or with a fleshy appendage below style insertion (12); pubescent on apex (13/13).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (14/14); ellipsoid (1/1); apex fleshy (12/12). Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear (13/13); 1 length of caryopsis.

Distribution

Europe (5), or Africa (11), or Temperate Asia (8), or Tropical Asia (3), or Australasia (3), or North America (3), or South America (4).