Kampochloa brachyphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–30 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 1–2.4 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; puberulous on surface; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.4 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.7 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn dorsal; 2.7 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy in the middle. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 2–5 in number; dissimilar. First apical floret male; elliptic; 2–3 mm long; glabrous; awned (dorsal, 3–4mm). Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns dorsal; 3–3.5 mm long; 2–5 per spikelet in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.2 mm long; fleshy.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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