Polypogon schimperianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 30–120 cm long; 4–11 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–7 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 6–20 cm long; 0.6–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2–2.6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with the pedicel; readily shedding fertile florets; pedicel base acute. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.6 mm long; 1.3–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn subapical. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 1 mm long. Hilum linear. Endosperm farinose.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Aveneae. FTEA.

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