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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Pseudopentameris caespitosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 70–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 45–50 cm long; 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 9–23 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 33–60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 33–60 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; purple; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 33–60 mm long; 4–6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; purple; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 8–10 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins transversely connected at apex. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 2–4 mm long; acute, or acuminate; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 27–45 mm long overall; with 17–27 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 10–18 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 15–30 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets 0–1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 0–1 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous, or ciliate. Anthers 3; 9 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 5–6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Barker 2002.

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