Pseudechinolaena camusiana

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 20–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 1–4 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–8 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing contiguous; irregular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the lower smaller (often maturing later). Pedicels 0.7–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; winged on margins, or winged on keel and winged on margins; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; thinner along midline; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5–1.6 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1.2–1.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. SAR 2003.

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