Perotis patens

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long; wiry. Ligule an eciliate membrane; erose. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades lanceolate to ovate; 1–7 cm long; 3–12 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; multilateral; 5–30 cm long. Rhachis angular; scabrous on surface. Spikelet packing crowded; irregular.

Spikelets spreading, or ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear to lanceolate; subterete; 1.2–2.7 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus brief; base obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 9–17 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.7 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 9–17 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea hyaline.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; isodiametric; biconvex; 1.7 mm long. Embryo 0.3 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Cynodonteae. FTEA.

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