Melinis drakensbergensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms decumbent; 50–55 cm long; 1.1–1.7 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–12 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 7–8 cm long; 1.5–2 cm wide. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; symmetrical; 2.3–2.6 mm long; with hairs extending 0.5–1 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.3–0.4 mm long; 0.1–0.2 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 pilose. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex emarginate; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pilose; ciliate on midvein; emarginate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 2.2 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret pilose. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma margins flat. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Paniceae. Zizka.

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