Catalepis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 5–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a unilateral false spike; appressed; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–9 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus oblong; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.1–0.2 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits; pubescent. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; with marginal hair tufts. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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