Pentameris reflexa

HABIT Perennial; persisting; cushion forming, or mat forming. Stolons present. Butt sheaths light brown. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 10–35 cm long; 10 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–150 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–6 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide. Panicle branches pubescent in axils.

Spikelets deflexed; 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; glandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4 mm long; 1.8–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow; glandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5–9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy below; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex entire, or erose; acute; muticous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.1–2 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.