Megaloprotachne albescens

HABIT Annual. Culms 15–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–9; digitate; unilateral; 4–16 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing irregular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; 3–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.2 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; pallid; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy between veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; glandular (marginal spots); 5 -veined; glabrous; villous on margins; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea cartilaginous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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