Dimeria madagascariensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 35–45 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 8–10 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation indistinct; with 6 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface hirsute. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; erect; unilateral; 3.5–4 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing crowded; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 1.2–2 mm long. Raceme-bases filiform; unequal (the longer measured); 3 mm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus 0.5 mm long; pubescent; base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; red; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous; ciliate. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy above. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–3.7 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous; red; without keels; wingless. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous; ciliate. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets with vestigial lower floret. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 8–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Camus 2001.

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