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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Mnesithea veldkampii

HABIT Perennial. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 30–150 cm long. Culm-internodes with septate pith. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; extravaginal. Leaf-sheaths 5–20 cm long; outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.4–15 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 5–60 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; smoothly terete; 5–20 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; glabrous on margins. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 4–5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; crateriform.

Spikelets sunken; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels free; clavate; 4.5 mm long; glabrous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; orbicular; dorsally compressed; 4.8–51 mm long; shorter than fertile. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; 2–2.2 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus glabrous; base truncate; with central peg; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; indurate; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 4.5–4.6 mm long; membranous; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 4–4.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea ovate; 3.8–4 mm long; 0 -veined. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 3; 3.4–3.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Potdar et al 2006.

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