Sacciolepis typhura

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths papery; reticulately veined. Culms 20–150 cm long; spongy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5–35 cm long; 2–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth, or papillose; glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–30 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; 1.7–2.5 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; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; gibbous; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

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.