Microchloa altera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 15–30(–70) cm long; wiry; 2–8 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or woolly. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate; 3–25 cm long; 0.3–1.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 2–7(–9) cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; 4–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume elliptic; 4–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5.5 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or woolly. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; (2.3–)2.9–4(–4.5) mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent, or ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs white, or red. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male, or barren; lanceolate; 2.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

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

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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