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Descriptions

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

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

Piptophyllum

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.075–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; membranous; without keel; wingless; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous. Lateral lemma awns shorter than principal.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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