Colpodium chionogeiton

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 4–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–12 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 1–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; 1-keeled; keeled below; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled below; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea keels smooth.

FLOWER Anthers 1.2–1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Poeae. FTEA.

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