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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Pentameris aristifolia

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Glands absent. Culms 25 cm long; 4–6 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6 cm long; 4 mm wide; flaccid; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 200 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–10 cm long; 6–8 cm wide. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1.5 length of fertile spikelet; eglandular; smooth.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; 1.4–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma muticous, or awned. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 5–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 1.2–2 mm long; exserted; shorter than principal.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 0.6 mm long; pallid.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Linder.

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