Fingerhuthia africana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 12–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 2.5–40 cm long; 1–5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 1.5–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4–5.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–4 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–4 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.5–5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; male, or barren; separate; oblong; 2–3.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas pilose; adorned on margins; mucronate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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