Richardsiella eruciformis

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms 7–18 cm long; 0.2–0.5 mm diam. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–6.5 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–11; borne along a central axis; spreading; arcuate; unilateral; 0.5–1.2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–7 cm long; tip filiform. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.6–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus bearded.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein tuberculate; ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1–1.3 mm long; hyaline; keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2; 0.25–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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