Danthoniopsis simulans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 150–300 cm long; 3–6 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 10–20 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 25–55 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 25–55 cm long; 7–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; 15–30 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels unequal; 3–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 3.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 4–6 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; chartaceous; yellow, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate (1mm). Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 0.8 length of spikelet; chartaceous; yellow, or purple; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong, or ovate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; truncate; mucronate. Palea of lower sterile floret winged on keels; pubescent; adorned on keels. Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma surface without hair tufts. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels; eciliate to ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lanceolate lobes; with lobes 1–2 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 8–13 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 4–5 mm long. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; thickened; winged; narrowly winged; ciliate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 5 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Arundinelleae. CEH.

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