Maltebrunia maroana

HABIT Perennial. Culms 50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 10 cm long; keeled; striately veined; puberulous; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 3 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 25 cm long; 10–12 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade venation with 8 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 6 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret subulate; 0.5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate. Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; chartaceous. Lemma lateral veins ribbed.

FLOWER Anthers 6; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Oryzeae. Camus 2007.

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