Pentameris microphylla

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths light brown; glabrous. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 30 cm long; 20 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5 cm long; 3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 50 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–7 cm long; 6–8 cm wide. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1.5 length of fertile spikelet; glandular; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3 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 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy at base. Lemma apex entire; truncate; muticous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1 mm long; yellow, or 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.