Stereochlaena annua

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–7 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2(–3); single, or paired, or digitate; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1 mm wide; pubescent on margins.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.5–1.5 mm long; 0.2–0.4 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; ribbed; convex across back; scabrous; rough on veins; acute; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 10–25 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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