Melinis rupicola

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 25–50 cm long; 0.9 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 1.5–3.5 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 12–24 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–6.5 cm long; 2–2.5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches simple; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; ciliate; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; gibbous; 3.8–4.7 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.3–0.7 mm long; 0.05–0.1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy below. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; 5 -veined; pilose; hairy below; lobed; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea of lower sterile floret winged on keels; pilose. Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long. Stigmas laterally exserted.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTA.

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