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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Afrotrichloris
HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 15–43.75–70 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (1).
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.
Racemes single; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded.
Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic (1), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 12.45–16.61–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent (1/1).
GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.6–0.875–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels (1), or 1-keeled (1); 1 -veined, or 2–3 -veined (1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1), or distinct (1). Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate (1). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (1); 0.6–0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate (1).
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; chartaceous (1), or coriaceous (1); much thinner above; without keel (1), or keeled (1); wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves; pubescent; hairy on back, or on veins (1). Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliate (1). Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.66–0.6825–0.75 of lemma length; acuminate (1), or attenuate (1); awned; 1 -awned (1), or 3 -awned (1). Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal (1/1). Palea 0.3 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels wingless (1), or winged (1); ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous (1), or pubescent (1). Apical sterile florets 4–7 in number (1); barren; separate (1), or in a clump (1); elliptic. Apical sterile lemmas awned.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.
FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid (1/1); dorsally compressed (1/1); biconvex (1/1).
DISTRIBUTION Africa.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
