Tristachya huillensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 60–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 15–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 15–120 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–12 cm long.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 3 in the cluster. Pedicels fused to each other; united wholly.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; hairy in 2 tufts (at base); acute (narrowly), or pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface setose; hairy on veins; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; dark brown; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 5–7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma oblong; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 5–12 mm long overall; without a column; persistent. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate; thickened.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Arundinelleae. FZ.

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