Isachne vaughanii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–45 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1–6 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3.5–10 cm long; 0.3–0.7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.6–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets female; with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma bisexual; glabrous, or hairy. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Isachneae. Gr Maur.

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