Sacciolepis transbarbata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–20 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 2–10 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; 3–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.33 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 13 -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; oblong; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; 11 -veined; ribbed; pubescent; with a transverse fringe of hair; acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; coriaceous; dull; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous.

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

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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