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Descriptions

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

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

Lintonia nutans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect, or decumbent; 23–75 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 5–22 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes (1–)2–4(–6); digitate; unilateral; 4–11.5 cm long. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5.3–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite. Floret callus truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.9–4.5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 3.3–5.8 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; 4.4–6.7(–9.2) mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; branched. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy between veins; with simple hairs. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 0.75–10.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Palea surface pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; biconvex; 2–2.2 mm long; dark brown; smooth.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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