Elionurus hirtifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent, or villous; persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; exserted.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; 3.5–6.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; villous on surface. Rhachis hairs 3–4 mm long. Rhachis internodes linear; 3–4 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 linear; flattened; villous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–6 mm long; as long as fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; keeled; 4–5 -veined; ciliate on margins; acuminate; awned; one glume awned, or both glumes awned; with 3–5 mm long awn. 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 ovate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 6–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; pubescent; base obtuse; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; 6 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous; with marginal tufts of hair. Lower glume apex entire, or lobed; 2 -fid; setaceously attenuate; awned; 2 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliolate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and northeast tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FTA.

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