Poaceae
Gaudinia

Gaudinia coarctata (Link) T.Durand & Schinz

First published in Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 845 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Azores. It is an annual or biennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15-30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1-6.5 cm long; 0.6-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6-15 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; falling with spikelet above. Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 3-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8-10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 3-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8-10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5-7 mm long; 0.8-0.9 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 6.5-9 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5-7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4-6 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; lightly keeled; 7-9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66-0.75 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10-15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Anthers 3; 2.5-2.75 mm long. Ovary pubescent all over.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform. Endosperm liquid.
Distribution
Africa: Macaronesia.
Reference
Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.
[GB]

Sources

  • 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

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. 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 2023. 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