Tetrachne

HABIT Perennial. Culms 50–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis flattened.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous; 1 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; coriaceous; keeled; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa, or Tropical Asia.

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