Alloeochaete ulugurensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short (1–2mm diam). Butt sheaths indurate; glossy; woolly; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms robust; 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; linear, or lanceolate; flat, or convolute; 35–70 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute; hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 12–14 cm long; 5–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches angular; smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 1.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to fertile lemma; lanceolate, or ovate; 4.5 mm long; herbaceous; 5 -veined; dentate; 2 -fid; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret straight; 1 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.66 length of lemma; pubescent; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy above; without hair tufts. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; reflexed; 6 mm long overall; without a column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; shorter than principal. Palea 0.75–0.8 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous. Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Arundineae. Kabuye.

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