Ctenium ledermannii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Glands wart-like. Culms 60–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 2; paired; straight; unilateral; 5–13 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; pubescent on surface; pubescent on margins; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6.5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.33 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–8 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; dark green; glandular (on keel); 1-keeled; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein tuberculate; ciliolate. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn dorsal and oblique; 3 mm long; hispidulous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets dissimilar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined; ciliate on margins; lobed; 2 -fid; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret dorsal; 5 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.8 length of lower sterile floret; membranous; ciliate on margins; lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret subapical; 9–12 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins villous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels eciliate, or ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male; elliptic; 3 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute; mucronate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FWTA.

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