Enneapogon pretoriensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–75 cm long; wiry; 2–5 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with capitate hairs. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4–6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; grey and dark brown (at tip); without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4.4–6.6 mm long; 1.7–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey and dark brown (at tip); without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–4.25 mm long overall; limb ciliate. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; ciliate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2 in number; dissimilar. First apical floret male; oblong; villous. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Pappophoreae. FZ.

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