Pentameris andringitrensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Glands absent. Culms 35–50 cm long; 10–30 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7 cm long; 2.5 mm wide; stiff; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 60 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–15 cm long; 8–10 cm wide. Panicle branches eglandular; glabrous in axils.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8 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; 8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; yellow and purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 8 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow and purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy at base. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 8–9 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 0.5 mm long; enclosed by glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 2.6 mm long; brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundineae. Linder 1992.

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