Libyella cyrenaica

HABIT Annual. Culms 2–5 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 1–4 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 1 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; with lowest internode elongated.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile; heteromorphic (lowest female, glumeless).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 0.1–1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.1–1 mm long; 0.05–0.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; laterally compressed. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. WDC.

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