Triraphis schinzii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 25–50 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–45 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6(–7) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas; pubescent; hairy at tip. Floret callus elongated; 0.3–0.5 mm long; pilose; acute; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 2 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 5–7 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on margin of lemma; ascending; 5–7 mm long. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 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: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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