Tetrachne dregei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–15; borne along a central axis (their own length apart); unilateral; 1–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 5–30 cm long. Rhachis flattened.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined; without lateral veins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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