Catalepis gracilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 5–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 3–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a unilateral false spike; appressed; unilateral; 0.6–1.2 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–9 fertile spikelets on each; simple, or secondarily branched; secondary branches racemulose. Central inflorescence axis 1.5–3 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; with separately deciduous secondary branchlets; flattened; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base. Spikelet callus oblong; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface with marginal hair tufts; bearing 2–4 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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