Sacciolepis africana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms decumbent; 30–180 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes hollow. Leaf-sheaths loose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–40 cm long; 3–15 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 4–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; gibbous; obtuse to subacute; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.3–0.4 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 2.5–3.5 mm long; herbaceous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1.1 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 9 -veined; ribbed; obtuse. Palea of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2–3 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; cartilaginous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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