Chrysochloa orientalis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–19 cm long; 3–5(–7) mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; digitate; unilateral; 5–18 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 1–2 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 3.3–4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; mucronate (subapical, up to 1 mm long). Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; trigonous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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