Valiha

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; pachymorph. Culms erect; slender; 600–800–1000 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement many; in a clump; apparently arising below the node; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths auriculate (1/1). Culm-sheath blade linear (1/1); constricted at base (1/1). Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; paniculate; with glumaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet.

Spikelets appressed, or ascending.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed, or subterete; 2.075–13.01–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret (1), or elongated between glumes (1).

GLUMES Glumes several; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 9 -veined (1), or 15 -veined (1). Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous (1), or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 19 -veined (1), or 23–27 -veined (1). Upper glume surface glabrous (1), or pilose. Upper glume apex acute (1), or setaceously attenuate (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 21 -veined (1), or 29–41 -veined (1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; glabrous (1), or pilose. Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex acute (1), or acuminate (1). Palea tightly convolute around flower; chartaceous; 16–22 -veined (1/1). Palea keels contiguous above a sulcus. Palea apex dentate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; acute. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; oblong.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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