Kaokochloa

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 20–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; viscid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform, or linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 5.81–8.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; villous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; with simple hairs, or capitate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; villous; hairy between veins. Lemma apex emarginate; cucullate; awned; 2–3 -awned. Lateral lemma awns longer than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid. Embryo 0.8 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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