Sacciolepis leptorrhachis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 60–200 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 1–4 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 6–20 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; 3–4.5 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; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; membranous, or coriaceous; dark brown, or purple; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline, or coriaceous; 9 -veined; ribbed; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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