Tribolium purpureum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 10–22 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hispid. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; aciculate; convolute; 2–4 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface hispid; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong, or globose; 0.5–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; 1.7–2.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous; with 2 transverse rows of hair tufts. Lemma hairs 1.5–2 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.5 of lemma length; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3–4 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 2.8–3.2 mm long. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; ciliate. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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