Polevansia rigida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 8–40 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–12; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; unilateral; 0.5–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3 cm long. Rhachis flattened.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; 0.5 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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