Louisiella

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 10–30 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–3 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–8.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; hyaline; without keels; 0–2 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous; 7–9 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma ovate; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; wingless; 7 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea coriaceous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; plano-convex. Embryo 0.3 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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