Ochthochloa compressa

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 10–30(–90) cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; (1–)2.5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (2–)3–5; digitate; unilateral; 1.5–4.5 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; angular; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.5 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined (all in keel). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.8–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy above. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, west tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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