Gaudinia coarctata

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–6.5 cm long; 0.6–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–15 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5–7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 6.5–9 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; lightly keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–2.75 mm long. Ovary pubescent all over.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Eur 1997.

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