Tenaxia guillarmodiae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 12–40(–70) cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 20–40 cm long; 0.4–0.6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 4–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4(–5) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 9–14 mm long; 6–8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–14 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–14 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy below; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 4–6 hair tufts in all. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; adnate to lemma lobes at base; 5–11 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.5–2 mm long. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong; fleshy; veined; 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.