Neostapfiella humbertiana

HABIT Annual. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms decumbent; slender; 8–15 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches ample. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1–2.5 cm long; 3–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; erect; unilateral; 2.5–4 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume oblong; 2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; 3.2–3.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4–4.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; elliptic; 1.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas pubescent; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns dorsal; 2.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

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.