Echinochloa ugandensis

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 25–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–8; borne along a central axis; in several whorls, or distant (inflorescence linear); ascending, or erect; unilateral; 1–3 cm long; simple. Central inflorescence axis 5–20 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing regular; 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; cuspidate; 2.3–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.3–0.4 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex cuspidate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; cuspidate; muticous, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0–6 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 2.3–2.5 mm long; indurate; much thinner above; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; laterally pinched. Palea reflexed at apex; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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