Pentameris bachmannii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths light brown. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 20–30 cm long; 10–20 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 6 cm long; 2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 100 fertile spikelets.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 2–6 cm long; 0.5–0.7 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.75 length of fertile spikelet; glandular; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–4 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; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough at apex. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.8–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex entire; truncate; muticous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 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.