Centropodia fragilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–90(–120) cm long; 8–12 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; flat, or involute; 3–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 4–7 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes; 1.2–1.4 mm long. Floret callus evident; 1.4–1.8 mm long; pubescent; pungent; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic; 8–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy between veins; with a transverse row of hair tufts; bearing 6–8 hair tufts in all (arching upwards). Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma hairs 2–3 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lanceolate lobes; incised 0.5 of lemma length; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 3 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2 mm long. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.6–2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north and west tropical. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia.

NOTES Arundineae. Conert.

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