Vossia

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 100–200 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single, or paired, or digitate. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; angular. Rhachis internodes cuneate. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels cuneate; tip rectangular.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 20–40 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–5 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 2-keeled; winged on keel. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct. Lower glume surface flat; without pits. Lower glume apex caudate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acute.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Tropical Asia.

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