| 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, generally from stolons
Stem 5–30 dm
Leaf: sheath glabrous to scabrous, hairy near collar; ligule hairy; blade < 30 cm, 1.5 cm wide
Inflorescence umbel-like; branches erect, 8–15 cm
Spikelet 3–5 mm; lower glume 1.5–3 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, acute to short-awned; upper glume 2–3.5 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, acute to short-awned; fertile florets 1 or 2, 2.5–4 mm, < 1 mm wide, ovate, obovate, or elliptic, margin generally hairy-tufted near tip, awn 1.5–6.5 mm; sterile florets (1)2–4, lowest 2.2–3.2 mm, 0.5–0.8 mm wide, awn 1–3 mm; upper < lower
Fruit 1–1.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=20,30,40
Ecology: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: native to Africa
Cult for forage.