Pentameris dolichochaeta

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 40–80 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 15–20 cm long. Panicle branches eglandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8.2–9.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 8.2–9.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 8.2–9.5 mm long; 2.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 2–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1.5–2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 5.5–6.5 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 2.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Arundineae. Fl Eth 1997.

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