Alloeochaete

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (4), or short (2). Culms erect (3/3); robust (1/1); 30–70.5–200 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent (5), or deciduous at the ligule (1); linear, or lanceolate (1). Leaf-blade apex muticous (4), or pungent (2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (4), or contracted (2).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (5/5); 3–4 fertile florets (2), or 5–7 fertile florets, or 8 fertile florets (5), or 9 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear (2), or lanceolate (5), or oblong (1); laterally compressed; 6–12.58–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (5), or elongated (1); bearded (4/4).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); 0.7–0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous (1), or chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (4); 1-keeled; 1–2 -veined (1), or 3 -veined, or 4–5 -veined (2). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (3), or puberulous (3), or pilose (1). Lower glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1), or acuminate (5); muticous (3), or awned (4). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or elliptic (3), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); 0.75–0.8792–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (1), or chartaceous (1), or herbaceous (4); 1-keeled; 3 -veined (5), or 4 -veined (4), or 5 -veined (5). Upper glume surface glabrous (3), or puberulous (3), or pilose (1). Upper glume apex entire (2), or dentate (4); 2 -fid (3/4), or 3 -fid (1/4); obtuse (1/2), or acute (1/2), or acuminate (1/2); muticous (1), or awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male (5/5), or barren (1/5); with palea (5/5). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (4/5), or elliptic (1/5), or ovate (4/5); membranous (1/5), or herbaceous (4/5); 5 -veined (5/5); awned (5/5). Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (5), or puberulous (2), or pilose (1); without hair tufts (1), or with marginal hair tufts (5). Lemma apex dentate (2), or lobed (4); 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved (1), or geniculate (5). Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 0.75–0.915–1 length of lemma. Palea keels eciliate (5), or ciliolate (1). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.