Streptolophus

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 100–200 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform. Panicle axis bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 3–7 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; numerous; flattened; rigid; spinose.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.905–4.2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblate; 0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; cartilaginous; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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