Pentameris acinosa

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Glands absent. Culms 15–30 cm long; 20–200 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4 cm long; 4 mm wide; stiff; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–4 cm long; 1–3 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches eglandular; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.8–1.2 length of fertile spikelet; eglandular; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 9–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 9–10 mm long; 2.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 3–7 mm long; equalling glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface pubescent.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Linder 1992.

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