Baptorhachis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 38–65 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; unilateral. Rhachis broadly winged; foliaceous.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.49–3.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 2-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface with transverse tufts of hair. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; membranous; 3 -veined; acute; awned. Fertile lemma lanceolate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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