Pentameris heptamera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Glands absent. Culms 20–30 cm long; 8–10 -noded. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 6–8 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 3–5 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–6 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; 5–6 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 acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–6 mm long; 2.5–3 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 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3–5 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 6–10 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea apex awned. Rhachilla extension 0–0.05 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.1 mm long.

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.