Acroceras parvulum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent, or rambling; weak; 5–10 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1.7–2.3 cm long; 2.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface puberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; angular; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; acute; 2.2–2.6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus glabrous; base truncate.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.9–2 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.2–2.6 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 5 -veined; acute; mucronate. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.3–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; with a little green crest. Palea reflexed at apex; elliptic; involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus.

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