Hyperthelia kottoensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 120–180 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent, or pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 20–50 cm long. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; exserted. Spatheole lanceolate; 2–4 cm long; scarious. Peduncle 4–10 cm long; pilose above.

Racemes 2; paired; deflexed; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat. Raceme-bases filiform; unequal (the longer measured); 1.3–2 mm long; extended into an oblong appendage; with 3.5–5.5 mm long appendage.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; 1.5–2 mm long; ciliate; tip oblique.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; lower raceme 2 in number; 0 in upper raceme; lanceolate; 6.5–10 mm long; equalling fertile. Basal sterile spikelet lower glume muticous.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; lanceolate; 8–14 mm long; as long as fertile. Companion sterile spikelet callus cuneate; 0.3–0.7 mm long; acute. Companion sterile spikelet glumes coriaceous; 9–11 -veined; puberulous; awned; both glumes awned; with 1–3 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–11 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; 2 mm long; pubescent; base pungent; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 6 -veined. Lower glume surface with a longitudinal median groove; puberulous; hairy above. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume oblong; coriaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 3 -veined. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline. Fertile lemma linear; 5 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 40–60 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous; with 0.1–0.2 mm long hairs. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Descoings & Mazade 2005.

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