Craspedorhachis rhodesiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 90–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 10–17; digitate; unilateral; 6–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; flattened.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2–2.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.2 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 1 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea hyaline.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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