Helictotrichon lachnanthum

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 60–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades 12–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 10–25 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2.5 mm long; villous; hairy above; with 2–3 mm long hairs. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 5–6.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5.5–7 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute, or setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.8 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea keels ciliolate. Rhachilla extension 0.75 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Rhachilla hairs longer than itself.

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