Brachyachne fulva

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; (15–)25–50(–70) cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–12(–25) cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (2–)3–5(–7); digitate; unilateral; 2.5–6 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.4–4.8(–5.5) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume oblong; 3.4–4.8(–5.5) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3.4–4.8(–5.5) mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea ovate; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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