Tragus heptaneuron

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–20 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–5 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; spreading; oblong; 0.4–0.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 3–9 cm long. Rhachis obsolete; deciduous from axis. Raceme-bases linear; 0.5 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3–3.5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins thickened; ribbed. Upper glume surface with hooked spines; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; biconvex; 1.2–1.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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