Sartidia perrieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 15–25 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 6–10 cm long; 2–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 20–27 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 20–22 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–15 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 11–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; flat below; 20–22 mm long overall; without a column. Lateral lemma awns gyrate; 20–22 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea 0.15 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 5–6 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Aristideae. Camus.

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