Tribolium amplexum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; linear; unilateral; 2.5–5 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 1.5–3.5 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; 4–5 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; with clavate hairs. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous. 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 1993.

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