Willkommia newtonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 20–50 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 3–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 12–16; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; unilateral; 1.5–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 0.3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous; scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–1.5 mm long overall.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Cynodonteae. WDC.

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