Viguierella madagascariensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 10–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; bracteate at pedicel base (1mm long).

Racemes 1; single; multilateral; 2–7 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus cuneate; 1–1.2 mm long; pubescent; base pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 2 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 6–15 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 6–15 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; lanceolate in profile; 4–6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–15 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; barren; in a clump; linear; 1–2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 4–15 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong (banana-like).

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Pat Mad.

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