Lepturus tenuis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 20–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

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

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; bilateral; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; narrowly winged; folded longitudinally to embrace spikelets; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–5.5 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 lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–12 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. 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.