Pentameris thuarii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 100–300 cm long; woody. Leaf-sheaths inflated. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 20–40 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 0.25 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 11 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.2 of lemma length; obtuse; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 14–18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 4–5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Shoulders of leaf-sheath black.

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