Lepturus anadabolavensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 17–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; pilose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–8 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 4–6 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute, or acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; bilateral; 2.5–3 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated; 1–1.2 mm wide; glabrous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; alternate; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong; 1.8–2.2 mm long. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.2–2.4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure (but terminal spikelet with 2 glumes 5mm long); exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 2.2–2.4 mm long; coriaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse; awned only on distal spikelets; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2.5–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.7–1.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Leptureae. Camus 2007.

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