Chaetobromus involucratus

HABIT Perennial. Stolons absent, or present. Culms geniculately ascending; 8–60 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–55 cm long; 1–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 2–11 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9–18 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Spikelet callus linear; 2.5 mm long; bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs 0.3 length of spikelet. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 9–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 5–10 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–18 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar (deciduous with glumes). Lowest fertile lemma glabrous, or hairy; awned (often 1-awned and entire). Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.3 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–10 mm long overall; with twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes; 2–4 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear; 0.8–0.9 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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