Trichoneura schlechteri

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; 4–6 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 10 cm long; 4–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 8–12; borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 2–5 cm long; bearing 8–9 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 15 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis angular; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; lightly keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; linear; 0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Ekman 1992.

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