Holcolemma inaequale

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 5–17 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches simple; 0.2–1.3 cm long; bearing 1–12 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base; sterile at the tips.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 0.3 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret unlike other scales; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 5–7 -veined; sulcate; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret becoming indurate on keels at maturity; winged on keels. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 1–1.3 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface granulose; rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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