GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Trichopteryx dregeana

HABIT Perennial. Culms prostrate; 30–100 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades reflexed; linear; 1–3 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; 3–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate (hairs 0.5–2mm).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.6–0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy above (tip). Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy above (tip). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate to ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 3 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with a transverse row of hair tufts; bearing 2 hair tufts in all. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma hairs 2–3 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 4–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 1.5–4 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Arundinelleae. FZ.

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