Tenaxia aureocephala

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; interrupted; 8–17 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; light brown; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; light brown; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with a transverse row of hair tufts; bearing 6 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; simple at base; 15 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1 mm long. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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