Tribolium utriculosum

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–9 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–10 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; interrupted; 1–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 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; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface setose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. 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 pubescent; hairy below; with marginal hair tufts; bearing 2 hair tufts in all. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma marginal hairs clavate.

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