Lepturus pulchellus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 5–14(–40) cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–20 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; bilateral; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong; 3 mm long (auriculate at base). Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat.

Spikelets sunken (and concavely depressed within the hollow); solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–12 -veined. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Leptureae. TAC.

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