Enneapogon lophotrichus

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 5–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; with capitate hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 1–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 3.5–5 mm long; 0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–7 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with a transverse row of hair tufts (at base); bearing 3 hair tufts in all; inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.5–6 mm long overall; limb ciliate; glabrescent towards tip. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; ciliate. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; dissimilar. First apical floret oblong; 0.5 mm long; glabrous; awned. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3.5 mm long; ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.8(–1.2) mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, west tropical, and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. TAC.

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