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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Helictotrichon galpinii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 30–60 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 12–16 cm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3.5 cm long; bearing 2–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.25 mm long; pilose; hairy above; with 3 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins distinct. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough generally. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface scaberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aveneae. Schweickerdt 1993.

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