Pentameris pallida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid; glossy; persistent and investing base of culm. Glands absent, or raised crateriform. Culms 15–40 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute; with simple hairs, or tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10 cm long; 5 mm wide; flaccid; eglandular, or glandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 30–100 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open, or contracted; elliptic; 2–8 cm long; 1–7 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.7–1 length of fertile spikelet; eglandular, or glandular; smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–5 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; 3–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3–5 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface villous; hairy at base. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.1 mm long; truncate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–7 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 2 mm long; exserted, or equalling glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface glabrous, or villous; hairy above.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long; yellow, or brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Linder.

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