Hydrothauma

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 10–20 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades flaccid. Leaf-blade surface with ribs raised into sinuous lamellae.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 1.8–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; membranous; 7 -veined; emarginate. Fertile lemma elliptic; cartilaginous; without keel; wingless. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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