Cutandia divaricata

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths loose; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; callose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 4–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; branching divaricately. Panicle branches stiff; straight; angular; scabrous; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear, or oblong; angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 8–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5–2.7 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Afr Nord.

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