Styppeiochloa hitchcockii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 10–70 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–15 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.25 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with triangular lobes; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1–2.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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