Isachne ciliaris

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 16–18 cm long; 12 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 8–12 secondary veins.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.3 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume obovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 0.7–0.8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Isachneae. Camus 2007.

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