Tribolium echinatum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 10–25 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

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

Panicle spiciform; oblong; interrupted; 2–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (2–)3(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1.1–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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