Yvesia madagascariensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–20 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1–2 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5; digitate; flexuous; paucilateral; 1–2 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 5–6 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing adaxial; distant; irregular.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.4–0.8 mm long.

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

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; pilose; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.8–2 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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