Echinaria

HABITAnnual. Culms 4–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubularfor much of their length. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle capitate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; withdiminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed;4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertilefloret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertilelemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 2-keeled; 2-veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse;mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma;membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apexemarginate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; coriaceous; without keel; wingless;5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemmaapex dentate; 5–7 -fid; awned; 5–7 -awned. Principal lemma awncurved; pungent. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 1 length oflemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex awned. Apical sterile floretsresembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; laterally compressed.Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe, or Africa, or Temperate Asia.

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