Pentameris glacialis

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–55 cm long. Leaf-sheaths loose; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 6–12(–15) fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–7 cm long; 1–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 13–14.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 13–14.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–14.5 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1–1.9 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 11–14 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3.5–5.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 3.5–4.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 3.5–4.2 mm long; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; glabrous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; fusiform; 2.5 mm long; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Barker 2002.

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