Caryopsis morphology of the Chloridoideae (Gramineae) and its systematic implications

Macro- and micromorphological analysis of the caryopses of 58 taxa belonging to 45 genera of Chloridoideae allows the recognition of three caryopsis types according to differences in ventral face and hilum morphology. First is the convex ventral face, corresponding with a leaf-shaped hilum, observed in the tribe Pappophoreae. Second is the flat ventral face, corresponding with a rudimentary, needle-shaped or oblong hilum, observed in the tribes Eragrostideae and Leptureae. The third type, observed in the tribe Cynodonteae, is the concave ventral face, corresponding with a grooved or triangular hilum. The ventral face and hilum, together with other useful caryopsis characters, including six different shapes, seven types of spermoderin sculpture and three types of stylopodium, may be used as diagnostic characteristics of genera, and even species, in Chloridoideae. A key to identify the different species of 45 genera is provided. (c) 2005 The Linnean Society of London.