Melinis effusa

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 25–60 cm long; 0.9–1.8 mm diam.; 10–15 -noded. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths viscid; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; (0.4–)0.6–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 3–9 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–20 cm long; 2–6 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

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; 1.3–1.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.2–0.4 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 glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

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; glabrous, or pubescent; ciliate on margins; dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0–15 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1.2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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