Sacciolepis curvata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; weak; 20–75 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 3–11 cm long; 3–12 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; 4–17 cm long; 1–10 cm wide. Panicle branches sinuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.5 mm long; 0.1–0.15 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; ribbed; glabrous, or puberulous; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.7–0.8 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; plano-convex; 0.8 mm long. Embryo 0.4–0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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