Ammochloa involucrata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 2–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths inflated; reticulately veined. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or absent; 0–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–15 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves; deciduous as a whole; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole lanceolate; herbaceous (reticulately veined). Peduncle disarticulating; disarticulating below uppermost sheaths.

Panicle capitate; globose; 0.8–1 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5(–7) -veined. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2.7–4 mm long. Stigmas 2; terminally exserted; pubescent. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.8–2 mm long; apex rostrate (0.25–0.33 length of grain). Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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