Pseudechinolaena perrieri

HABIT Annual; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 15–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blade base broadly rounded. Leaf-blades oblong; 0.8–3 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid (stiff glassy hairs). Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–8; borne along a central axis; spreading; unilateral; 0.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–12 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 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 2.2–2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; gibbous; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface setose; hairy below; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; fenestrate (at the base); 3 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; gibbous; 1.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1 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.