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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Pentameris densifolia
HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Stolons present. Butt sheaths light brown. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 9–25 cm long; 15–50 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; stiff; glandular. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–50 fertile spikelets.
Panicle open; ovate; 1–5 cm long; 0.5–3.5 cm wide.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1.5 length of fertile spikelet; glandular; smooth, or scaberulous.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 1.7–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.3–0.5 mm long; incised 0.1–0.2 of lemma length; truncate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3–6 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 1–2 mm long; equalling glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface pubescent; hairy above.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.5–1.8 mm long; brown.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.
NOTES Arundineae. Linder.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Leaves turning pink with age.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
