Description: Decumbent annuals or perennials.
Leaves with ligule short, membranous; blade narrow-elliptic or lanceolate.
Inflorescence of digitate or solitary racemes.
Spikelets paired, similar in sex and shape, 1 sessile, falling with the adjoining joint of the rachis and pedicel, the other pedicellate, falling from the pedicel. Florets 2, the lower sterile, male or rarely bisexual, the upper bisexual. Glumes equal, the lower 2-keeled with a longitudinal channel, 4–6-nerved; upper 3-nerved, apiculate, mucronate or shortly awned. Lower lemma present or absent, stamens 3 when present; upper lemma 2-toothed or 2-lobed, awned, shorter than the glumes. Palea usually small, ciliate. Stamens 2 or 3. Lodicules 2, truncate.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 15 species, mainly South-East Asia. Australia: 1 species (native).
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & C. A. Wall Taxon concept:
One species in NSW: Microstegium nudum |
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