Alloteropsis cimicina (L.) Stapf

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Tufted annual; culms 30–120 cm. high, erect or ascending; nodes hairy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 3–15 cm. long, 5–20 mm. wide, ± amplexicaul, tuberculate-ciliate on the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of 4–11 racemes, usually in 1 whorl; racemes 7–25 cm. long, the lowest 1/5–1/2 of their length bare.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly elliptic-ovate, 3.5–5.5 mm. long; lower glume 1/2–3/4 as long as the spikelet; upper glume subulate-acuminate, cartilaginous, smooth and shining, the margins ciliate with appressed or eventually spreading hairs 1–2 mm. long; upper lemma with an awn 2–4.5 mm. long, the palea papillose with globular hairs.

Figures

Fig. 144.

Habitat

Dry open places, particularly on old farmland; 0–1900 m.

Distribution

K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 throughout the Old World tropics

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Annual up to 120 cm high, erect or ascending; leaves narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, ± amplexicaul

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of 4–11 racemes, usually in 1 whorl; racemes 7–25 cm long, bare of spikelets below

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets narrowly ovate-elliptic, 3.5–5.5 mm long; lower glume 1/2–3/4 the length of the spikelet; upper glume subulate-acuminate, cartilaginous, smooth and glossy; upper lemma with an awn 2–4.5 mm long, the palea papillose with globular hairs.

Distribution

S3 throughout the Old World tropics.

Morphology General Habit

Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30-120 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths loose; open for most of their length; with flat margins; 1.5-12 cm long; without keel; striately veined; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or ovate; 3-15 cm long; 5-20 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident; prominent beneath. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous (except midrib). Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute; simple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-11; digitate, or borne along a central axis (then corymbose and only lowest node whorled); unilateral; 7-25 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0-10 cm long; puberulous. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing irregular. Raceme-bases filiform (0.2-0.5 of raceme); 10-30 mm long; pilose; hairy at base. Spikelets ascending; in pairs, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2-4 in the cluster.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5-5.5 mm long; falling entire.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5-5.5 mm long; falling entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5-0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate (hairs 1-2mm). Upper glume apex acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; fenestrate (at base); 5 -veined; acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 3-5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2-4.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface papillose; glabrous. Palea apex entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3; linear; 0.5-1 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas purple. Styles 0.5-1 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis ovoid; laterally compressed. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

Distribution

Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. North America: southeast USA.

Reference

Paniceae. FTEA.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Annual 60–90 cm, high

Ecology

Moist soils.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Tufted annual.

Morphology Culms

Culms 30–150 cm. high, erect or ascending; nodes hairy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf laminae 5–20 mm. wide, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, ± amplexicaul, tuberculate-ciliate on the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of 4–11 racemes, usually in 1 whorl; racemes 7–25 cm. long, the lowest to 1/5 to 1/2 of their length bare.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 3.5–5.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Superior glume cartilaginous, smooth and shining, subulate-acuminate.

Superior

Superior glume cartilaginous, smooth and shining, subulate-acuminate. Superior lemma with an awn 2–4.5 mm. long, its palea papillose with globular-tipped hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma with an awn 2–4.5 mm. long, its palea papillose with globular-tipped hairs.