Tribolium uniolae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–60 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 3–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 0.8–7 cm long. Rhachis semiterete; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate to orbicular; laterally compressed; obtuse; 5–8 mm long; 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; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; with clavate hairs. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; with turgid hairs. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; ciliate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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