G.624. Urelytrum Hack.

Perennial (ours) with a membranous ligule. Inflorescence terminal, composed of 1-many subdigitate racemes. Racemes cylindric or slightly flattened, obliquely jointed, very fragile; internodes clavate, with a crater-like apex. Sessile spikelet: callus oblique, inserted into the apex of the internode; lower glume broadly convex; margin sharply inflexed and becoming keeled towards the apex; often muricate on the sides; upper glume awnless; lower floret male with a palea; upper lemma entire and awnless. Pedicellate spikelet about as along as the sessile spikelet, long-awned (1-12 cm) from the lower glume.

Worldwide: 7 species in tropical Africa

Zambia: 3 taxa.