Perennials. Inflorescence a solitary raceme bearing pectinate spikelets on a semi-terete (crescent-shaped in section) rhachis. Spikelets several-flowered: 2 lowermost florets barren; 3rd fertile and the apical 1(-3) much reduced. Spikelets laterally flattened, sessile, alternate in 2 rows, disarticulating above the glumes but not between the florets. Glumes unequal; lower small with an awn-point; upper as long as and enclosing the florets, shortly awned from the apex and also bearing an oblique dorsal awn. Lemmas long-awned from the back or near the apex, conspicuously ciliate. Worldwide: 17 species in tropical Africa, Madagascar and tropical America Zambia: 3 taxa. |
No image yet |