Ehrharta longifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 60–120 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong (margins flat below); 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; prominently veined; rugose; obtuse; mucronate. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of lower sterile floret; cartilaginous; rugose throughout; obtuse; mucronate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 9–10 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex truncate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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