| 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, cespitose or from rhizomes
Stem decumbent to erect, 2–30 dm
Leaf: ligule membranous or hairy-tufted; blade generally 10–40 cm, 0.5–1.5 cm wide, flat
Inflorescence generally umbel-like; branches 2–30, sometimes in distinct whorls, each raceme- or spike-like branch with 2 rows of overlapping spikelets on 1 side of axis
Spikelet: glumes unequal, < florets, 1–3-veined; axis breaking above glumes; lower 1–2 florets fertile, upper 1–3 sterile, < 1/2 lower floret length; fertile floret lemma ovate to lanceolate, back glabrous, midvein hairy, 3-veined, awn 1; palea < lemma, translucent, obscure
Fruit ± fusiform, 3-angled
Species in genus: ± 50 species: warm temp, tropical worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: mother of Nestor, goddess of flowers)
| Introduced |
Perennial
Stem generally 1–4 dm
Leaf: sheath glabrous; ligule hairy; blade < 15 cm, ± 0.3 cm wide
Inflorescence panicle-like; branches in 2–4 whorls, spreading, 5–15 cm
Spikelet 2–3.5 mm; lower glume 2–3 mm, ± 0.3 mm wide, lanceolate; upper glume 3–3.5 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, lanceolate; fertile floret 1, 2–3.5 mm, 1.5–2 mm wide, lanceolate to elliptic, glabrous to hairy, awn 5–9 mm; sterile floret 1, 1–2.5 mm, 0.5–1 mm wide, awn 3–7 mm
Fruit ± 1.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=28,40,63
Ecology: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Francisco Bay Area, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: native to s Great Plains