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Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Schismus schismoides
HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–15 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–6 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pubescent.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle contracted; oblong, or ovate; 1–2 cm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 3.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–5 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–4 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy below; with a transverse fringe of hair. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3–4.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 0.5–1 mm long. Palea 2.2–2.4 mm long. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; 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.