Schmidtia

HABIT Annual (1), or perennial (1). Rhizomes absent (1), or short (1). Stolons absent, or present (1). Culms erect (1), or geniculately ascending (1), or decumbent (1), or prostrate (1); 8–54.5–90 cm long; firm (1), or wiry (1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades without exudate (1), or viscid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 10–13–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.6–0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–13 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.7–0.825–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–13 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma cuneate; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; wingless; 9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; villous. Lemma apex lobed; 6 -fid; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus. Lateral lemma awns subequal to principal. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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