Tribolium obliterum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons absent, or present. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–35 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

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

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 1.5–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4(–6) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 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; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate. 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 and middle Atlantic ocean. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs simple.

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