Anadelphia trispiculata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 100–120 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear; 20–40 cm long. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole linear; 2–3 cm long; scarious. Peduncle 1.2 cm long.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 5 mm long; ciliate; with dark brown hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; linear; 8–10 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus oblong; 1 mm long; 2-toothed, or emarginate. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; 11–13 -veined; glabrous; setaceously attenuate; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 8–10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 3–3.5 mm long; bearded; base pungent; attached obliquely. Spikelet callus hairs dark brown.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; dark brown; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy below. Lower glume apex entire; truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma linear; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.75 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 35–70 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 22–45 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis 4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTA.

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