Pseudopentameris brachyphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 7–12 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 30–45 mm long; 10 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 30–45 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–45 mm long; 3–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy all along. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.3–0.4 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 19–30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; wrapped around principal; 6–8 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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