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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Kaokochloa nigrirostris

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 20–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths viscid; hirsute; with capitate hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 5–12 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate. Panicle branches viscid; villous; with simple hairs and capitate hairs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform, or linear; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 0.3 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface villous; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume surface villous; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; coriaceous; pallid and black; tipped with last colour; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface villous; hairy below; hairy between veins. Lemma hairs 2 mm long. Lemma apex emarginate; cucullate (incurved); awned; 2–3 -awned. Principal lemma awn when present apical; 0–3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on margin of lemma; 4–6 mm long; longer than principal (flat below). Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; glabrous. Embryo 0.8 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Pappophoreae. WDC.

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