Cyrtococcum bosseri

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–6 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.5–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; gibbous; obtuse; 1.2–1.4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; gibbous; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma obovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.2–1.4 mm long; indurate; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; with a little green crest. Palea reflexed at apex; involute; indurate; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Paniceae. Bosser 1993.

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