Sartidia angolensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 100–200 cm long; 2 mm diam. Culm-internodes solid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–35 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 20–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 25–33 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3.5–4 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 25–33 mm long; 1–1.3 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 18–22 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 75–100 mm long overall; without a column. Lateral lemma awns gyrate; 75–100 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.15 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; dorsally compressed; sulcate on hilar side; 9 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Aristideae. FZ.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.