Chaetopoa pilosa

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 2–3 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis angular; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 6–8 in the cluster. Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets; cuneate; base bluntly stipitate; base pilose. Pedicels linear; glabrous, or ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas; lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 1–2 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes subulate; 3–5 mm long. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 1; exserted from glumes; muticous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; ciliolate on margins; dentate; 3 -fid; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1 mm long overall. Palea chartaceous; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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