Urochondra

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 0.7–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; keeled; wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea hyaline. Palea keels eciliate, or ciliolate.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3. Ovary beaked; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; biconvex; apex rostrate. Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia.

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