Alloteropsis cimicina

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–120 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths loose; open for most of their length; with flat margins; 1.5–12 cm long; without keel; striately veined; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 3–15 cm long; 5–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident; prominent beneath. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous (except midrib). Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute; simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–11; digitate, or borne along a central axis (then corymbose and only lowest node whorled); unilateral; 7–25 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–10 cm long; puberulous. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing irregular. Raceme-bases filiform (0.2–0.5 of raceme); 10–30 mm long; pilose; hairy at base.

Spikelets ascending; in pairs, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2–4 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–5.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate (hairs 1–2mm). Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; fenestrate (at base); 5 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 3–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–4.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface papillose; glabrous. Palea apex entire.

FLOWER Anthers 3; linear; 0.5–1 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas purple. Styles 0.5–1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis ovoid; laterally compressed. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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