Holcus setiger

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms 15–30 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7.5–14 cm long; 1–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or elliptic; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–1 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 3–4 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; keeled above; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; linear; 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns dorsal; geniculate; 2 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south and middle Atlantic ocean. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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