Merxmuellera drakensbergensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; aciculate; convolute; 15–30 cm long; 1.3 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; oblong; interrupted; 8–18 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (5–)6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 13–17 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; 13–17 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6.5–9 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; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; adnate to lemma lobes at base; 9–12 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong; fleshy; 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.