Tribolium hispidum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–40 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 3–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; continuous, or interrupted; 1–7 cm long. Panicle branches terete.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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