Acroceras calcicola

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–35 cm long. Culm-internodes striate. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 2–3 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent; with 6 secondary veins; without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; densely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous; tuberculate-ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–5; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 3–3.5 cm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.8–2 mm long.

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

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 1.1 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2.2 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface 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; puberulous; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1.6–1.7 mm long; indurate; 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.