Tridens delicatulus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 45–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 20–40 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 30–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 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; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.25–2.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 0.75 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Embryo not projecting.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Renvoize 1993.

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