Orthoclada africana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 80–180 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with hooked hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded; with a false petiole. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 12–25 cm long; 20–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 25–35 cm long; evenly furnished. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5–5.5 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea fused below to rhachilla internode; oblong; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear; 0–2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

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

NOTES Centotheceae. FTEA.

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