Brachyachne patentiflora

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 8–30(–45) cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm diam. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades curled; flat, or involute; 3–12 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; (2.5–)5–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; (2.5–)3–4.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume oblong; (2.5–)3–4.4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; (2.5–)3–4.4 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; (1.8–)2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse; mucronate. Palea ovate; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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