Melinis biaristata

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 14 cm long; 1.6 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths viscid; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–15 cm long; (3–)5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 24 cm long; 4 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 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; 2.4–2.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.1–0.2 mm long; 0.05–0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; not gibbous; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 6 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; hairy below; lobed; 2 -fid; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 20–30 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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