Chevalierella dewildemanii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 80–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades elliptic; 32–40 cm long; 45–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 30–35 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.5–2 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; rounded except near apex; 3–5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 2–2.5 mm long overall; limb scaberulous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong; 2–2.2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 1.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Centotheceae. WDC.

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