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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Hickelia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (3), or elongated (1); pachymorph (1/1). Culms rambling, or leaning (3); 228–686.3–1500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; with 1 branch dominant; thinner than stem. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; scanty (1), or linear (1), or stellate (2); with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 12.45–16.56–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes several; lower persistent, upper deciduous; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 21–23 -veined (1/1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (3), or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex acute (3), or acuminate (1). Upper glume ovate; indurate; without keels; 9 -veined (1/3), or 13–14 -veined (1/3), or 15–21 -veined (2/3), or 22–23 -veined (1/3). Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins (1/1). Upper glume surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex acute (3), or cuspidate (1).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren (1/1); without significant palea (1/1). Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate (1/1); indurate (1/1); acute (1/1). Fertile lemma ovate; indurate; without keel; wingless; 9–11 -veined (1/2), or 17 -veined (1/2). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (3), or pubescent (1). Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliolate (3). Lemma apex cuspidate; muticous (3), or mucronate (1). Palea 0.9 length of lemma; coriaceous; 9 -veined (1/1). Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus; eciliate (3), or ciliolate (1). Palea surface glabrous (3), or pubescent (1).

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; ovoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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