Anthephora pungens

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades tapering towards tip; 2–6 cm long; 2.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 2–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with sessile scars on axis. Panicle axis angular; bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 4–6 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets sessile; 4–6 in the cluster. Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets; connate into a cup below; oblong; 6–6.5 mm long; base pungently stipitate (4mm long); base pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by single glumes; elliptic; 6–6.5 mm long; longer than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes united below; coriaceous; thicker on margins; 13 -veined; pubescent; acuminate; awned; with 6–15 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume subulate; 0.5 length of spikelet.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; puberulous; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FZ.

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