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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Pentameris tomentella

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid; glossy; persistent and investing base of culm. Glands raised crateriform. Culms 10–30 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5 cm long; 3 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface hirsute. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 100 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 3–5 cm long; 3–4 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.75 length of fertile spikelet; glandular; smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4–5 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; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; glandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular; 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 pubescent. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3–5 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1–1.5 mm long; enclosed by glumes; shorter than principal. Palea surface glabrous.

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

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.