Elymus africanus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 60–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; bilateral; 13 cm long. Rhachis scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; 2 their length apart. Rhachis internodes linear; 17–22 mm long. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus 0.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 9.5–10.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 9.5–10.5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 10–11 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; recurved at base of limb; 25–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3.2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Triticeae. SMP 1994.

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