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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Schmidtia kalahariensis
HABIT Annual; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 8–70(–90) cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent; with capitate hairs. Leaf-sheaths viscid; pubescent; with capitate hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2.5–14 cm long; 7–17.5 mm wide; glaucous; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides; with capitate hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open, or contracted; oblong; (2.5–)4–12(–15) cm long; 1.5–3(–4) cm wide.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5(–7) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 10–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus bearded; acute.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4.8–9(–11) mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; grey; without keels; (7–)9–11(–13) -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 6.6–15 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; (7–)9–11(–13) -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile lemma cuneate; 7.75–15 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 6 -fid; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; (3.2–)5–10.5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising between lobes; subequal to principal. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1.75–3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.
NOTES Pappophoreae. FZ.
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glandular hairs conspicuous on palea keels.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
