Volume V (2000) - Flora of New Zealand Gramineae
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Echinochloa P.Beauv.

Echinochloa P.Beauv., 1812 nom. cons.

Type species: E. crusgalli (L.) P.Beauv.

Annual, or rarely perennial, sometimes very tall tufts, or straggling or decumbent, rooting at nodes, sometimes floating. Ligule 0, or a fringe of hairs, the ligule area always well defined. Leaf-blade broad, flat. Panicle of racemes densely or loosely arranged along a central rachis. Racemes bearing densely packed, secund spikelets almost to base; rachis hispid, 3-angled; spikelets ± sessile or pedicelled, clustered in pairs or in short secondary racemelets, falling entire at maturity. Spikelets often hispid, often cuspidate or awned, 2-flowered; lower floret ♂ or Ø, upper floret ⚥. Glumes membranous to membranous-herbaceous, unequal; lower much shorter, ± broadly ovate from clasping base, 3-5-nerved, often mucronate, upper ≈ spikelet, very convex, 3-7-nerved, ± acute, mucronate, cuspidate, or shortly awned. Lower floret: lemma ≈ upper glume and similar in texture, rarely smooth and shining; palea = lemma, hyaline, 2-keeled, or reduced or 0 in Ø florets. Upper floret: lemma subcoriaceous or crustaceous, faintly 5-nerved, awn straight or curved, or 0; palea ≈ lemma and similar in texture, keels rounded, margins broadened towards base; lodicules 2, cuneate, fleshy, glabrous; stamens 3; ovary apex glabrous, styles subterminal, free, stigmas pink, red, purple or black; caryopsis compressed, glabrous, embryo > ½ length of caryopsis, hilum punctiform, subbasal.

Key

1
Panicle very compact; racemes close-set, erect; upper florets usually rotundate; caryopsis yellowish or brownish, very turgid
Panicle ± open, often stiff; racemes ± spreading and/or ± distant; upper florets elliptic to ovate; caryopsis greenish or whitish, not turgid
2
2
Panicle erect, with branches erect and/or stiffly spreading; ligular area usually glabrous, rarely faintly pubescent
3
Panicle drooping, or horizontal with racemes drooping to one side; ligular area with short hairs or diffusely minutely pubescent especially at centre, or glabrous
5
3
Lemmas in lower Ø florets awned or some awnless; upper glumes cuspidate and at least some distinctly awned
Lemmas of lower Ø florets awnless or a few with distinct awns; upper glumes acute to cuspidate, rarely slightly awned
4
4
Upper floret narrowing abruptly to scabrid, deltoid, submembranous tip; palea apex soft, subobtuse
Upper floret narrowing gradually to smooth, acute, stiff tip; palea apex hard, acute
5
Panicle drooping; racemes flexuose
Panicle ± horizontal; racemes secund

c. 30 spp. of tropical and temperate regions in both Hemispheres. Naturalised spp. 4; transient spp. 2.

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