Pentameris humbertii

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Glands absent. Culms 40–50 cm long; 8–10 -noded. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 12 cm long; 8 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded 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; 8 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; 8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 8 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25–0.33 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 0–0.05 length of fertile floret.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundineae. Linder.

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