Dimeria perrieri

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–6 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 4–5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.6 mm wide; scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged all along; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets with vestigial lower floret; barren; without significant palea. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Camus 1994.

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