Oxyrhachis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; erect; bilateral. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated. Spikelet packing abaxial. Rhachis internodes oblong. Rhachis internode tip oblique.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus square; glabrous; base obtuse; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 6–7 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; chartaceous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 0–2 -veined. Fertile lemma oblong; hyaline; without keel; wingless; 2 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex truncate. Palea present, or absent or minute; 0–0.2 length of lemma; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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