Tenaxia dura

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 60–90 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; convolute; 30–60 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 10–18 cm long; 2–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 13–18 mm long; 6–8 mm wide; 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; 13–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–18 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with basal hair tufts near margin; bearing 2 hair tufts in all. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.33–0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; simple at base; 10–15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 2 mm long. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back and 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.