Tribolium ciliare

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 5–10 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 1 mm wide.

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

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 0.5–1 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; 2–3 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; 2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins tuberculate; setose. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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.