Melinis gossweileri

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–80 cm long; 8–10 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; smooth. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous to pubescent; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 9–10 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1 -nate; 2–5 cm long. Panicle axis hirsute. Panicle branches capillary; hirsute.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–1.5 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; gibbous; 2.3–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface with transverse tufts of hair. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–4.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 2 mm long; membranous; 3 -veined; ciliate on midvein; ciliate on margins; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma; pilose; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 1.8–2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA 1998.

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