Catabrosa drakensbergensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 12–25 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 5–11 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

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

Panicle open; ovate; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; 1-keeled; keeled below. Lower glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled below. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3.5 mm long; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Poeae. Hedberg 2001.

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