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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Enneapogon spathaceus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose; with capitate hairs. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades persistent; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs, or capitate hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; interrupted; loose; 7–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 1–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 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; 5–7 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4–4.5 mm long overall; limb plumose. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; plumose. Palea 3.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets 2 in number; dissimilar. First apical floret male; oblong; villous. Apical sterile florets barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Goossens 1998.

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