Gilgiochloa

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; pilose. Lower glume apex acute; awned. Upper glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; membranous; 5–7 -veined; acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret woody. Fertile lemma oblong; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; with a transverse row of hair tufts. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.2–0.3 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with clavate appendages on wings.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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