Tribolium acutiflorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 50–120 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 1–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute to setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute to setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate; hairy below. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs clavate.

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