Tripogon multiflorus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–65 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–20 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scabrous (towards tip). Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; linear, or oblong; straight; unilateral; 5–23 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 0.33–0.5 their length apart; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–19 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 9–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; asymmetrical; 2.6–3.2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 3.2–3.8 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4.4 mm long; membranous; mid-green and purple; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1.3 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; trigonous; 1.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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