Desmazeria lorentii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7–15 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 3–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or oblong; secund; 3–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple. Panicle axis flat.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Poeae. Fl Libya 1997.

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