Taeniorhachis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms erect; 4–8 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; stiff. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes paired; unilateral. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6–6.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; hyaline; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Upper glume elliptic; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; membranous; 9–11 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface striate; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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