Melinis tenuissima

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 30–100 cm long; 0.6–1.2 mm diam.; 4–10(–12) -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm long; 2–9 mm wide; without exudate. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–20 cm long; (3–)4–8(–11) cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth; 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; 1–1.5 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate; 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 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0–8 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 1 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Palea 1.5 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 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.