in Hook.f., le. PI. 6,4: tab. 3595 (1962).- Type: Le Testu 8866, Gabon (holo- P).
Regional litterature: Fl. Gabon 5: 243, tab. 40 (1962), Zon, Gram. Cameroun: 55, pl. 11 (1992); Gr. Gabon: 36 (1999).
Potamophila le-testui Koechlin, Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 108: 5-6 (1961).
Description:
* Perennial of 0.3-0.8 m high with short rhizomes. Culms bamboo-like, erect, 3-5 -noded. Leaves elliptic, 8-26 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, distinct cross veins, acuminate, with a false petiole of 0.5-3 cm long; sheath imbricated, auricles erect; ligule an eciliate membrane of 4-5 mm long.
* Inflorescence an open, effuse panicle of 18-25 cm long and 2-3 cm wide; branches appressed, or ascending, capillary, 4 cm long; pedicels filiform, 1-8 mm long.
* Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets and 1 fertile florets, lanceolate, acuminate, 7-10 mm long; internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Glumes both absent or obscure. Lower lemmas similar without significant palea. 0.5-0.8 mm long; upper fertile lemma elliptic, 7-10 mm long, membranous; keeled; 5 -veined. pubescent. acute. Palea elliptic,membranous; 3 -veined, acuminate, slightly longer than lemma. Anthers white.
Distribution West Africa: Cameroon.
Distribution world-wide: C Africa.