Isachne muscicola

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent, or leaning; 100–200 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 4–5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear; 10–20 cm long; 5–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 15–25 cm long; 10–20 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets orbicular, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike. Fertile lemma orbicular; hemispherical; 2–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Isachneae. Gr Madag 1997.

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