Stenotaphrum Trin.

Long-rhizomatous, long-stoloniferous or tufted perennials, or annuals. Leaf-sheath ± strongly compressed. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade usually disarticulating from sheath at maturity. Panicles spike-like, narrow, terminal, and often also lateral from the uppermost leaves, pedunculate, composed of numerous very short spike-like racemes embedded in hollows along a dorsally-flattened rachis, sometimes with long racemes closely appressed to rachis; panicle breaking up at nodes at maturity. Racemes bearing 1–5 sessile or pedicelled spikelets along a 3-angled rachis. Spikelets dorsiventrally compressed, falling entire at maturity, 2-flowered, florets awnless; lower floret ♂ or Ø, upper floret ☿. Glumes very dissimilar; lower minute, scale-like, upper ≈ spikelet, membranous, 5–7-nerved; or glumes similar, very minute. Lower floret: lemma = spikelet, chartaceous to coriaceous, 3–7-nerved, nerves some-times very obscure; palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled, or palea 0. Upper floret: lemma chartaceous to subcoriaceous, faintly 3–4-nerved; palea ˜ lemma and similar in texture, faintly 2-nerved; lodicules 2, fleshy, cuneate; stamens 3; ovary apex glabrous, styles free or fused near base, stigmas pink, red, purple or black; caryopsis dorsiventrally compressed, embryo large, to ½ length of caryopsis, hilum punctiform, basal.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]