Guaduella macrostachys

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph; knotty. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; firm. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Branch complement one; solitary. Leaves cauline; 4–7 per branch. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades elliptic, or oblong; 10–18 cm long; 25–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–15 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 20–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5 mm long; obscured by lemmas. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma obovate; 7–10 mm long; herbaceous; without keel; 11 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 6 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; obovate; membranous; veined; obtuse. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2; papillose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Guaduellaeae. WDC.

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