Cyrtococcum deltoideum

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 7–25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 1–4 cm long; 4–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 2–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1.5–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; gibbous; acute; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; ciliolate on margins; fringed above; acute. Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; with a little green crest. Palea reflexed at apex; involute; indurate; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser 1993.

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