Dactyloctenium capitatum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; (3–)10–18 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–4 cm long; 2.5–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–9; digitate; closely spaced; in a head; oblong; incurved; unilateral; 0.8–1.4 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate; extension 1.5–2 mm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.8–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; orbicular; laterally compressed; granular; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Bosser.

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