Elionurus ciliaris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 150–200 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; aromatic.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle 5–13 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; 5–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; puberulous on surface; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 2–3 mm long. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat; with simple rim.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; flattened; 2–3 mm long; pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined; glabrous; ciliate on margins; acuminate; muticous. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 7–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus square; 1 mm long; pubescent; base obtuse; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; with oil streaks; 2-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or villous. Lower glume margins ciliate (1mm). Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 4 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1–3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and northeast tropical. South America: northern South America, western South America, and southern South America.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTA.

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