Brachypodieae
Annuals or perennials. Leaf-sheath open or closed. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade linear. Inflorescence a spike-like raceme. Spikelets very shortly pedicelled, terete to laterally compressed, several-flowered, florets ⚥; disarticulation above glumes and between florets; rachilla prolonged. Glumes unequal, persistent. Lemma rounded, awned from apex. Palea 2-keeled, hyaline, pectinately ciliate. Lodicules 2, ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary with terminal hairy appendage; styles 2. Caryopsis ellipsoid, hollowed on hilar face, adherent to lemma and palea; hilum linear, as long as caryopsis.
King, G. J. and Ingrouile, M. J. New Phytol. 107: 633-644 (1987), favour tribe Brachypodieae for Brachypodium as in Tutin, T. G. et al. (Eds) Fl. Europaea 5: 189-190 (1980) and Hilu, K. and Wright, K. W. Taxon 31: 9-36 (1982); but some authors place Brachypodium in tribe Hordeeae or in Poeae.
Molecular studies [Catalan, P. et al. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 117: 263-280 (1995); see also Soreng, R. J. and Davis, J. I. Bot. Rev. 64: 1-88 (1998)] indicate that Brachypodium is best placed in its own tribe Brachypodieae.
