Drake-brockmania haareri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 15–63 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades 3–18 cm long; 3.5–9.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–10; borne along a central axis; deflexed, or ascending; oblong to ovate; unilateral; 1.5–3.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3.5–11 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6–14 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures; readily shedding fertile florets. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7–3.5 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.8–6.8 mm long; 1–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic in profile; 3.6–4.7 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; mucronate. Palea straight; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–2.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; trigonous; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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