Pogonochloa greenwayi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 30–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–14 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; unilateral; 0.5–1 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; irregular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1.5 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1.3–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate, or truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.3–2.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 20–45 mm long overall. Palea oblong; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex ciliate. Apical sterile florets 1–2 in number; barren; in a clump; linear; 0–2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 15–25 mm long; 1–2 per spikelet in number.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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