Hypseochloa cameroonensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2.5–9 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3.8–9 cm long; 1.2–3.8 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.3 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled above; (3–)5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5–0.6 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 4–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.8 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long; retained within floret.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.3 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. CEH.

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