Acritochaete

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–6.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous; acuminate; awned. Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins covering most of palea. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Palea chartaceous; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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