Enteropogon longiaristatus

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3–7(–13) cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–5; paired, or digitate; ascending, or erect; unilateral; 4–9 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6.5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; (3.5–)4–6 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–8 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; (5–)6–7 mm long; cartilaginous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; (25–)30–40 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 2–2.7 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 20–35 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; concavo-convex; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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