Melinis angolensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 100 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths hispid. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–11 cm long; 7–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 13 cm long; 2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous; bearing a few hairs; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; symmetrical; 2.7–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume oblong; not gibbous; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; glabrous; ciliolate on margins; lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea of lower sterile floret smooth. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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