Pentameris caulescens

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths glabrous. Glands absent. Culms rambling; 15–30 cm long; 30 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–5 cm long; 2–4 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches eglandular; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1 length of fertile spikelet; eglandular; smooth; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–12 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; 8–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 8–12 mm long; 2.5–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 16–19 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 6–8 mm long; exserted; shorter than principal. Palea keels puberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.2 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.