Anadelphia macrochaeta

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2.5–5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear; 10–20 cm long. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole linear; 1.8–2.5 cm long; scarious.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 0.2–0.4 mm long; glabrous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 1.5 mm long; bearded; base pungent; attached obliquely. Spikelet callus hairs red.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 6–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume oblong; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 2–3 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma linear; 3–3.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with linear lobes; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 45–60 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 20–35 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTA.

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