Thelepogon

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 10–92.5–150 cm long. Lateral branches sparse (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single (1), or paired (1), or digitate; bearing 10–13 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular. Rhachis internodes linear (1), or cuneate (1). Rhachis internode tip transverse; cupuliform. Raceme-bases filiform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1), or ovate (1); dorsally compressed; 5–7.75–13 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent (1), or pilose (1); base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; indurate; without keels; 7 -veined (1), or 9 -veined (1). Lower glume surface muricate (1), or rugose (1); without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic (1), or ovate (1); chartaceous; without keels (1), or 1-keeled (1); 3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth (1), or rugose (1). Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea (1), or without significant palea (1). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1); hyaline; 2 -veined (1/1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or ovate (1); hyaline; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Palea hyaline; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Tropical Asia (1), or Australasia (1).

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