Megastachya madagascariensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 80–170 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 12–23 cm long; 10–26 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 13–28 cm long; 8–26 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 7–25 mm long; smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–15 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; of similar consistency on margins; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex emarginate; muticous. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Centotheceae. HJW 2001.

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