Coelachne friesiorum

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 2.5–5 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 0.4–1 cm long; 0.5–3.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 0.6–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple; 0.4–0.8 cm long; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.6–0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8 length of upper glume; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 1.1 length of adjacent lemma; firmer than adjacent lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 0–3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid. Embryo 0.3 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Isachneae. FTEA.

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