Cynodon plectostachyus

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–90 cm long; 1–4 mm diam. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; hyaline. Leaf-blades flat; 10–30 cm long; 4–7 mm wide; mid-green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–20; digitate; in several whorls; incurved; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.3 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.4–0.6 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous, or hispidulous. Lemma hairs 0.3 mm long. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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