Melinis macrochaeta

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–120 cm long; (1–)1.5–2.5(–3) mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths viscid. Ligule a fringe of hairs; (0.8–)1.1–1.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 4–14 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 5–25 cm long; 2–7 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous; glabrous, or bearing a few hairs; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; symmetrical; 1.5–2 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, or pubescent. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; muticous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3(–5) -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; lobed; 2 -fid (0.25 its length); awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 5–20 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1.3 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3(–5) -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea 1.2 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.3 mm long. Stigmas laterally exserted.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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