| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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.
Annual, perennial herb
Stems spreading to erect
Leaves generally cauline; ligule membranous, ± entire to jagged, sometimes ciliate; blade flat
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches spike-like; spikelets short-stalked or sessile
Spikelets compressed or ± cylindrical; glumes equal or unequal, 1(3)-veined, short-awned or not; axis breaking apart above glumes and between florets; florets generally 2–12; lemma back rounded or keeled, glabrous or hairy, 3-veined, tip obtuse or minutely 2-lobed, awn generally 0; stamens 2 or 3
Species in genus: 40 species: warm temp, tropical
Etymology: (Greek: slender grass, from slender inflorescence)
Reference: [McNeill 1979 Brittonia 31:399–404]
| Native |
Annual
Stems spreading to erect, 1–5 dm
Leaf: sheath scabrous; ligule 1–3 mm, minutely jagged; blade 2–15 cm, 2–6 mm wide
Inflorescence 3–8 cm; branches ascending to ± appressed, lower 1–2 cm
Spikelet generally 4–6 mm, ± cylindric in X -section; glumes 2–3 mm, upper > and wider than lower; florets 4–7(8); lemma 1.5–3 mm, back rounded, ± sticky, veins hairy, tip minutely 2-lobed, awn 0.5–1 mm, slender
Ecology: Wet places
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Joaquin Valley (Kern Co.)
Distribution outside California: to Texas, Mexico