Microchloa caffra

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 10–50 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; wiry; 2–8 -noded. Leaves cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate; 2–10 cm long; 0.3–1.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 4–15 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; 1.2–1.8 mm wide. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 1 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–5.5 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; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; hyaline; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

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

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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