Melinis tomentosa

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; slender; 60 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.7–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 6–7 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; pubescent; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; symmetrical; 2.7–2.9 mm long; with hairs extending 0–0.3 mm beyond apex; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; not gibbous; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–6 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; pubescent; lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; mucronate. Palea of lower sterile floret smooth. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 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.