Enteropogon rupestris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms 30–90 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat; 5–25 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 6–17 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; 4.5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.1–0.2 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; 4–7 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; 4.5–8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1–5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface granular. 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: Macaronesia, west tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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