Thyridachne

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long; spongy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; clasping; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; coriaceous; 5 -veined; readily splitting into two halves; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; cartilaginous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

FRUIT Caryopsis ellipsoid; flattened.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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