Psilolemma

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect; 7–35 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single, or borne along a central axis; appressed; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic, or oblong, or ovate; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; membranous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex entire. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; biconvex. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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