Merxmuellera ambalavaoensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 75 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; equilateral, or nodding; 25–35 cm long; 3–4(–5) cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 5–6 -nate; whorled at lower nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 17–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 17–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 17–18 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface with a transverse row of hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundineae. Camus 2007.

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