Sacciolepis micrococca

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 15–70 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 4–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose (on veins above).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 2–15 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 elliptic; laterally compressed; gibbous; 0.7–1 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea, or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ribbed; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0–0.25 length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 0.7–1 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; coriaceous.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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