Melanocenchris monoica

HABIT Perennial. Culms 10–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–10; borne along a central axis; distant; spreading; cuneate; unilateral; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; terminating in a barren extension; extension a forked bristle.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

STERILE SPIKELETS Apical sterile spikelets barren; 2–3 in number.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume linear; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex emarginate, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets 1–2 in number; male and barren; separate; oblong (bidentate); 1.2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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