Heteranthoecia

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; spreading, or deflexed; unilateral. Rhachis flattened; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing abaxial; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.7–2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes lower deciduous, upper persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; dorsally compressed. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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