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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Harpachne

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect (2/2), or geniculately ascending (1/2); 13–38.5–74 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades stiff (1), or firm (2).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; linear (2), or oblong (2); multilateral. Rhachis angular (2/2). Spikelet packing crowded (2), or lax (1).

Spikelets pendulous (2/2); solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; tip widened (1/1).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–7 fertile florets (1), or 8 fertile florets (2), or 9–10 fertile florets (1), or 11–13 fertile florets (2), or 14–18 fertile florets (1); with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong (2), or cuneate (1); laterally compressed; 5–10.96–21 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.6–0.6867–0.8 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (1). Upper glume oblong; 0.5–0.8167–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse (2), or acute (1).

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate (1/1); lanceolate in profile (2/2); membranous, or cartilaginous (2); of similar consistency above, or much thinner above (2); keeled; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous (2), or scabrous (1). Lemma lateral veins prominent (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous (1), or mucronate (1), or awned (1); 1 -awned (1/1). Palea 0.5–0.62–0.7 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with entire wings (2), or erose wings (1); eciliate (1), or ciliolate (2). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3 (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid (2/2); laterally compressed (2/2); biconvex (2/2).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (2), or Temperate Asia (2).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.