Pentameris uniflora

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–65 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate, or convolute; 6–12.5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 4–6 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 11–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–12 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–9 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5–3 mm long; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 8.5–10.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2–3.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 2.5–4.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 5.5–6 mm long; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Barker 2002.

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