Cyrtococcum humbertianum

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 20–35 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes black. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–1.8 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 4–5 cm long; 12–13 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade venation prominent; with 4 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–13 cm long; 2.5–3.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; gibbous; obtuse; 1.2–1.4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1–1.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Camus 2007.

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