Pentameris oreophila

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–53 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–8 cm long; 2–4 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–20 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.6–7 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.6–3 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 15.5–24 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 6–11 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 7–10.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 5.5–8.5 mm long; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; glabrous. Anthers 3; 4–5.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 3.5–4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Barker 2002.

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