Chlorocalymma

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; spreading; ovate; unilateral. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged; foliaceous; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–2 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; flattened; rigid; spinose.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5.5–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; herbaceous; 7–9 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; cartilaginous; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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