Source:
SSA
Description:
Annual or perennial, tufted, stoloniferous. Leafblade expanded or rolled, glabrous; ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence a panicle, contracted or spike-like; spikelets solitary, shortly pedicelled. Spikelet 4-7 mm long, slightly laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes or falling with glumes; glumes +/- equal, shorter than to as long as spikelet, membranous, margins hyaline, 5-7-nerved, glabrous, awnless. Florets 4-10, bisexual; upper floret reduced; lemma 1.8-3.0 mm long, similar in texture to glumes, with hyaline margins, 7-9-nerved, glabrous or hairy on back or margins, hairs sometimes in tufts, 2-lobed or minutely notched (emarginate), awnless or mucronate or awned from between lobes; awn short, straight; callus short; palea +/- equalling lemma, obovate, 2-keeled, 2-nerved, hyaline, glabrous or sometimes pilose. Lodicules 2, ciliate. Stamens 3. Ovary subglobose, glabrous; styles distinct, plumose above. Caryopsis ellipsoid. x= 6.
Distribution:
Species 5, Africa, Mediterranean region to northwest India; 4 in sthn Afr., Free State, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape.
Classification:
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