Monelytrum

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 20–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; in a multilateral false spike; cuneate; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; terminating in a sterile spikelet. Raceme-bases linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pilose. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea surface pilose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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