Pseudopentameris macrantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–45 cm long; 2–8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; ovate; 9–23 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 35–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; bearded; with longer hairs above; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 0.33 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 35–55 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 35–55 mm long; 4–5 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 above. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.3 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 20–30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 10–18 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 0–1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 0–1 mm long.

FLOWER Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear; 0.8 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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