Geochloa lupulina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; woolly; persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7.5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle capitate; ovate, or globose; 2–3.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; 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; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; 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, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; adnate to lemma lobes at base; 4–8 mm long overall; without a column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 0–0.5 mm long. Palea keels pubescent. Palea surface pubescent, or pilose; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 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.