Pseudechinolaena moratii

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 15–25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate; asymmetrical. Leaf-blades elliptic; 1–2.5 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–8; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 1.2–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing contiguous; irregular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the lower smaller (often maturing later). Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; 1.5–1.6 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein with pectinate knobs. Upper glume surface setose; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; thinner along midline; 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1–1.1 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.9–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis ovoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. SAR 2003.

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