Andropogon pteropholis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 150–200 cm long; 5–6 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 30–40 cm long; lax. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal; subtended by a spatheole. Spatheole linear, or lanceolate; 6–10 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes clavate; 8 mm long. Rhachis internode tip oblique; crateriform; with simple rim.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels cuneate; ciliate; tip lobed (bilobed).

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 8–10 mm long; shorter than fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; acute; awned; both glumes awned; with 6–13 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 11–13 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus oblong; 2 mm long; pilose; base obtuse; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged all along. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct; 10 in number. Lower glume surface flat and with a longitudinal median groove. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 2 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 6 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 9 mm long; hyaline; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.15 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 30–40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea elliptic; 0.75 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 1 mm long; fleshy; truncate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FWTA.

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