Triraphis ramosissima

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms decumbent; 28–80 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes yellow. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 6–12 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 5–13 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–19 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–15 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; 2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on margin of lemma; ascending; 2–2.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; trigonous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Chippindall 1992.

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