454.000 Ascolepis Nees ex Steud.

Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves crowded at culm base, lamina often inrolled. Inflorescence a compact head of 1-flowered spikelets surrounded by an involucre of leaves. Each spikelet consists of a spikelet bract, a perianth scale (squamella), a rhachilla (in a few species) and a flower. The squamella is often conspicuous and petal-like and sometimes encloses the flower, the nutlet and squamella falling together. Stamens 1-3(-5). Ovary with 2-3 stigmas. Nutlet minutely papillose.

Comment: The exact occurrence of species in this genus is as yet unknown and the list is incomplete. Some of the species are listed solely on the basis of Malawi being cited in the distribution of the species in Flora of Tropical East Africa.

Worldwide: c. 20 species, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa; 1 in Madagascar and S America and 2 extending to Indo-China

Malawi: 2 taxa.