Snowdenia microcarpha

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; weak; 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1–3 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; multilateral; 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial; irregular.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume orbicular; 0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; scabrous; rough on veins; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 3–5 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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