Eccoptocarpha

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–75 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing adaxial; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 3.2–3.8 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation sinuous but straightening at maturity to extrude floret.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; indurate; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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