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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.
Triraphis andropogonoides
HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths dark brown. Culms 40–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–40 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; elliptic; dense; 12–30 cm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 2 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on margin of lemma; ascending; 1.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2–2.3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; trigonous.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.
NOTES Eragrostideae. Chippindall 1992.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.