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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.
Sirochloa
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 250–300 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate.
INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; leafless between clusters.
Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes two, or several; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea chartaceous. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.
FLOWER Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.
FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Africa.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.