GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Neostapfiella

HABIT Annual. Stolons absent (2), or present (1). Culms decumbent (1/1); slender (2/2); 8–20.5–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes (1/1). Lateral branches ample (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear (2), or lanceolate (1).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (1), or paired (1), or digitate (1); erect (1), or ascending (2); unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 2 -rowed (1/1).

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension (2), or with diminished florets at the apex (1). Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.2–4.136–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus brief (1), or evident (1), or elongated (1); pubescent (2), or pilose (1); obtuse (1), or acute (1), or pungent (1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.4–0.8333–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (2); muticous (2), or mucronate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (2), or oblong (1); 0.75–0.875–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1), or acuminate (1); muticous (2), or mucronate (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic (2), or obovate (1); laterally compressed; lanceolate in profile (1/1); coriaceous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or puberulous (1), or pilose (1). Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute (1/1); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical. Apical sterile florets 1 in number (1/1); barren (1/1); elliptic (1/1). Apical sterile lemmas awned (1/1).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (2/2).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; trigonous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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