Cyrtococcum multinode

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms rambling; 30–100 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–20 cm long; 8–25 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 8–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches profusely divided. Panicle branches capillary; glabrous, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; angular; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; gibbous; 1.2–1.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 0.66–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed (weakly); gibbous; 1–1.2 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; with a little green crest, or with a green spot. Palea reflexed at apex; involute; coriaceous; 2 -veined.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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