Melinis reynaudioides

HABIT Caespitose. Culms decumbent; 20–30 cm long; 0.8 mm diam. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 2.5–9 cm long; 2.2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 2–2.7 cm long; 1 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; symmetrical; 2.3–2.6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.2–0.6 mm long; 0.1–0.2 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; not gibbous; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 4.3–6.3 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7(–9) -veined; pilose; ciliate on midvein; emarginate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 4.7–7 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret scabrous. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.3–5.3 mm long overall. Palea cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Zizka.

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