Loudetia filifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; slender; 15–35 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pruinose. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins entire.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 2.5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–3 -nate; 1–2.5 cm long. Panicle branches puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; acuminate; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; bearded; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; chartaceous; light brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous; light brown; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; 3 -veined; glabrous; acute to setaceously attenuate. Palea of lower sterile floret 0.5 length of lemma. Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 10–20 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Column of lemma awn 6–8 mm long; puberulous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; thickened.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long; anther tip smooth.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundinelleae. FTA.

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