Stereochlaena tridentata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 60–80 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–7; digitate; unilateral; 6–7 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 1 mm wide; ciliate on margins.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 2-keeled (keels coriaceous); 7 -veined; ribbed; flat across back; scabrous; rough on veins; dentate; 3 -fid; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1–3 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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