POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.

CINNA

WOODREED

David M. Brandenburg

Perennial
Stems erect
Leaves generally cauline; sheath glabrous; blade flat, margin scabrous
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches spreading to ascending
Spikelet ± sessile to stalked, breaking below glumes, falling as 1 unit; glumes ± equal or lower < upper, lower 1-veined, upper 1–3-veined; floret 1, slightly < or > glumes, bisexual; axis generally prolonged behind palea, short, bristle-like; lemma faintly 3–5-veined, short-awned just below acute tip, or awnless; palea ± < lemma; stamens 1–2
Species in genus: 4 species: temp North America., n South America, Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: a grass)
Reference: [Brandenburg et al. 1991 Sida 14:581–596]

Native

C. latifolia (Goepp.) Griseb.

DROOPING WOODREED

Stem 2–19 dm
Leaf: ligule 2–8 mm; blade < 28 cm, 1–20 mm wide
Inflorescence 3–46 cm, 0.5–20 cm wide, green or purplish
Spikelet 2.5–4 mm; glumes generally 2.5–4 mm; floret short-pedicelled; lemma 2–4 mm, generally 3-veined, awn < 2.5 mm or 0; palea 2–3.5 mm; stamen 1, anther < 1 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Streambanks, wet meadows, moist sites in coniferous forest
Elevation: 1350–2800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, n&c High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: circumboreal
Horticultural information: STBL.