Sacciolepis clatrata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–50 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades involute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–5 cm long; 0.4–0.6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels bearing a few hairs; hairy at tip; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 1 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface hirsute. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 2.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 13 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins thickened; ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner above; 7 -veined; with thickened veins; ribbed; with veins transversely connected at apex (below), or with cross-veins (above); glabrous, or pubescent; hairy between veins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.5 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. Mimeur 2003.

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