Enteropogon barbatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths keeled; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 7–18 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 4–5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1(–2) in number; separate; lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; concavo-convex.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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