Holcolemma canaliculatum

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; slender; 20–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 3–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.3–1 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base; sterile at the tips (2–2.5mm bristle).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.25 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; sulcate; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on keels at maturity; winged on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose; rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate. Palea surface rugose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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