Stereochlaena cameronii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent, or woolly. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (2–)3–8(–10); digitate; unilateral; 3–16 cm long. Rhachis narrowly winged; angular; 0.6–0.8 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 lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.1–0.5 mm long; 0.05 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; ribbed; scabrous; rough on veins; acute; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 5–20 mm long. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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