GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sartidia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (4), or short (1). Culms erect (4/4); 30–80–200 cm long. Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (4/4). Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (4); stiff (1), or firm (4).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open (3), or contracted (2).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–25.4–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent (4), or pilose (1); obtuse (1), or pungent (3), or 2-toothed (1).

GLUMES Glumes persistent; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear (1), or lanceolate; 1–1.17–1.5 length of upper glume; hyaline (1), or membranous (1), or chartaceous (3); without keels; 3 -veined (3), or 4 -veined (1), or 5 -veined (3). Lower glume surface smooth (3), or asperulous (1), or scabrous (1); without pits. Lower glume apex acute (1), or acuminate (2), or setaceously attenuate (2). Upper glume linear (1), or lanceolate; 1.2–1.45–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (2), or chartaceous (3); without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth (4), or scabrous (1). Upper glume apex obtuse (1), or acute (1), or acuminate (1), or setaceously attenuate (2).

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear (4), or lanceolate (1); subterete; chartaceous (2), or coriaceous (3); of similar consistency on margins (4), or much thinner on margins (1); without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth (3), or scaberulous (2); unwrinkled; without grooves (4), or with a median groove (1). Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight (3), or curved (1), or 3-branched (1). Lateral lemma awns subequal to principal (4), or shorter than principal (1). Palea 0.1–0.145–0.15 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous (4/4).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; dorsally compressed (4/4). Embryo 0.2–0.205–0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa.

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