Calamagrostis hedbergii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 35–45 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 5–6 cm long; 0.8–1.2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 1.2–1.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1.6–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface asperulous; rough above. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; straight; 2 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Palea hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; lanceolate; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Endosperm farinose. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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