Schismus inermis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–60 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 5–7 cm long; 1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.5–3 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.4 mm long. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.4–2.8 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–0.9 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.6–1.2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1–1.2 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Conert.

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