Hylebates

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 40–100–150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform (1), or linear (1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–2.75–3.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (1), or elongated between glumes (1).

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.8–0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose (1). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; membranous; 5 -veined; acute; awned. Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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