Class
Order
Family
Classification
Subordinate Taxa
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Cynodon Rich. in Persoon, Syn. Pl. [Persoon] 1, 85 (1805)
Description
Perennials, rhizomatous and stoloniferous, rooting at nodes and sending up tufts of erect flowering shoots. Leaf-sheath glabrous, short, ± rounded. Ligule membranous, often ciliate. Leaf-blade flat, glabrous to loosely short-hairy; margins scabrid. Culm erect or geniculate at base, internodes glabrous. Inflorescence of 2–6 narrow, digitate, slender, persistent, spike-like racemes; rachis with 2 secund rows of imbricate spikelets. Spikelets ± sessile, laterally compressed, 1-flowered, ☿, rarely with a second vestigial floret; disarticulation above or between glumes. Glumes ± equal, acute, keeled; lower 1-nerved, subpersistent, upper 1–3-nerved, usually deciduous with lemma. Lemma > glumes, naviculate, firmly membranous, 3-nerved, lateral nerves close to margins, awnless, keel ciliate, wingless or narrowly winged. Palea ≈ lemma, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, minute, obovate-cuneate, glabrous. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles free to base; stigmas plumose. Caryopsis oblong, subterete; embryo c. ⅓ length of caryopsis; hilum linear, c. ⅔ length of caryopsis.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]
Biostatus
Exotic
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Exotic: Fully Naturalised | 1 |
| Exotic: Casual | 1 |
| Total | 2 |
Bibliography
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Persoon, C.H. 1805: Synopsis plantarum, seu enchiridium botanicum, complectens enumerationem systematicam specierum hucusque cognitarum. Vol. 1. Cramerum et Tubingæ, Paris.
