Source:
SSA
Description:
Perennial or annual, tufted, stoloniferous. Leaf blade expanded, mostly basal, cauline leaves few, linear, margins rigidly ciliate with tubercle-based hairs; ligule a fringed membrane. Inflorescence a false bristly spike with clusters of spikelets on a reduced axis, clusters are of 2-4 bisexual spikelets, 1-3 sterile and reduced spikelets, these often reduced to bristles; spikelets shortly pedicelled, pedicels conspicuously hairy. Spikelet 3-4 mm long, dorsiventrally compressed, falling with glumes; glumes unequal; lower glume reduced to a small membranous, nerveless scale; upper glume elliptic-lanceolate, 5-7-nerved, herbaceous, scabrid and hairy, awned; awn longer than glume, scabrid. Floret 1, bisexual; lemma less firm than glumes, herbaceous, elliptic-lanceolate, hairy, 3-nerved, shortly awned; awn straight; callus present at base of clusters, hairy; palea broadly lanceolate, slightly thinner in texture than lemma. Lodicules 2, cuneate, glabrous. Stamens 3. Ovary ellipsoid; stigmas plumose.
Distribution:
Species 1: Monelytrum luederitzianum Hack., Namibia to S Angola.
Classification:
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