Pentameris cirrhulosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 15–30 cm long; 3–7 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 3–7 cm long; 0.5–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 50 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–6 cm long; 1.5–5 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1 length of fertile spikelet; glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–9 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; 5–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; glandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–9 mm long; 1.5–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular; 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 villous; hairy all along, or below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 7–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 1–7 mm long; exserted, or equalling glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long; purple.

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.