Prosphytochloa prehensilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms scandent; 100–1000 cm long. Leaves heterophyllous with the distal narrower and retrorsely scabrid at the apex. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–15 cm long; 3–12 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–14 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; angular; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.05–0.1 length of spikelet. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate; 0.5–1 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 6. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Oryzeae. WDC.

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