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HEMARTHRIA R.Br.
Plants hermaphroditic, caespitose, perennial. Culms erect or ascending or decumbent; internodes hollow, glabrous, terete; nodes
glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, not distinctly distichous; sheaths terete or with compressed keels, margins open; auricles
absent; ligules a ciliate membrane; blades flat or folded, linear, lax, apex acuminate. Spicate racemes terminal and axillary
(several inflorescences per culm), sheaths subtending inflorescences not spathe-like; not aromatic; rachis glabrous; pedicels
not with a longitudinal groove, glabrous. Spikelets paired or ternate at each inflorescence node; dissimilar in size
and shape, disarticulation below the glumes, dorsiventrally compressed, sessile (or short pediceled) spikelets
fertile, pedicellate (or long pediceled) spikelets reduced or staminate or neuter. Pedicellate spikelets
reduced or staminate or neuter, awnless. Sessile spikelets perfect; first glumes 2-keeled, gland-like depressions or
pits absent; abaxial surface convex, smooth, coriaceous, glabrous, awnless; second glumes length equal to the first
glumes; lower floret sterile; lemmas hyaline, apex entire, acute, awnless; paleas present (short), hyaline; upper
florets perfect, lemmas hyaline, apex entire (acute), awnless; paleas present (short), hyaline. Stamens 3; anthers
brown. Caryopses broadly lanceolate, dorsiventrally compressed, brown. Base chromosome number x=9.
A small genus of about 12 species native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World.
Commonly adapted to disturbed open habitats. Frequently in wet or moist sites.
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