Isachne guineensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear; 6–12 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2.5–7.5 cm long; contracted about primary branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; unequal; 2–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets, or 0 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets, or 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1.9 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1.7 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; glabrous. Fertile florets female; with the lowest dissimilar (bisexual, or male when see above). Lowest fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7 length of adjacent lemma; thinner than adjacent lemma; glabrous. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Isachneae. FTA.

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