Sirochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms 250–300 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes terete. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; leafless between clusters.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two, or several; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; chartaceous; without keel; wingless; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea chartaceous. Palea apex dentate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; rudimentary.

FLOWER Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary with a steeple-like appendage.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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