Acroceras boivinii

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 25–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2.5–6 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral. Central inflorescence axis 8–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.3 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex cuspidate. Upper glume ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface rugose; puberulous. Upper glume apex laterally pinched.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; rugose; puberulous; laterally pinched at apex. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.3 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2007.

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