Tribolium alternans

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; without bracts, or bracteate at pedicel base; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; linear; unilateral; 4–6 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 6–7(–10) mm long; 4 mm wide; 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; 6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; with clavate hairs. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1997.

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