Ehrharta triandra

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 6–45 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–12 cm long; 2–8 mm wide; flaccid.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; loose; 2–15 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; 6–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. 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 elliptic; 3–5 mm long; 1.5–2 length of fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined; rugose; glabrous; attenuate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 2–4 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; rugose above; glabrous; attenuate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 2–4 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Chippindall.

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