Leptagrostis schimperiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with linear lobes; incised 0.15 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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