Pentameris aurea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid; glossy; glabrous; persistent and investing base of culm. Glands elongated. Culms 30–70 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 35 cm long; 1–5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 100–150 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–14 cm long; 5–12 cm wide. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 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; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; yellow, or mid-green; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 1–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow, or mid-green; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or villous. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; muticous. Palea surface glabrous, or villous. Palea apex dentate; 3 -fid.

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

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.