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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.
Bewsia
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus evident; pilose.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; membranous; keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear, or oblong; isodiametric; biconvex.
DISTRIBUTION Africa.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.