Neostapfiella chloridiantha

HABIT Annual. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms slender; 25–30 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–6 cm long; 4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; apiculate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.7 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 12–15 mm long overall.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; trigonous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Camus.

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