Sacciolepis chevalieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths scarious; without ribs (or reticulation). Culms 20–100 cm long; firm. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–20 cm long; 1–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 2–16 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.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–2.2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ribbed; pubescent; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1–1.3 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

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.