Pentameris ellisii (Pentameris ellisii)

Description

HABIT Perennial;caespitose.Butt sheaths light brown;glabrous.Basal innovations intravaginal.Glands wart-like.Culms erect;40–60 cm long;8 -noded.Culm-internodes distally glabrous.Lateral branches lacking.Leaves cauline.Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy.Ligule a fringe of hairs;0.2–0.5 mm long.Leaf-blades convolute;5–15 cm long;0.5–0.7 mm wide.Leaf-blade surface hirsute;sparsely hairy.Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute. INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle;comprising 30–100 fertile spikelets. Panicle open;lanceolate,or ovate;5–10 cm long;4–6 cm wide.Panicle branches glandular;glabrous;bearded in axils. Spikelets solitary.Fertile spikelets pedicelled.Pedicels filiform;glandular. FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets;without rhachilla extension.Spikelets cuneate;laterally compressed;5.5–6 mm long;breaking up at maturity;disarticulating below each fertile floret.Floret callus evident;pilose;hairy in 2 tufts;truncate. GLUMES Glumes persistent;similar;exceeding apex of florets;shiny;gaping.Lower glume elliptic;5.5–6 mm long;1 length of upper glume;membranous;purple;glandular;1-keeled;5 -veined.Lower glume lateral veins obscure.Lower glume apex acute,or acuminate.Upper glume elliptic;5.5–6 mm long;2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma;membranous;purple;glandular;1-keeled;5 -veined.Upper glume primary vein conspicuous.Upper glume lateral veins obscure.Upper glume apex acute,or acuminate. FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong;2.5–2.8 mm long;chartaceous;dull;keeled;9 -veined.Lemma midvein pubescent;hairy below.Lemma surface smooth;glabrous.Lemma margins ciliate;hairy below.Lemma apex dentate;2 -fid;with lobes 0.25–0.3 mm long;awned;3 -awned.Principal lemma awn from a sinus;geniculate;7–8 mm long overall;with 3.5–4.5 mm long limb;with twisted column.Column of lemma awn 3.5–4.5 mm long.Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes;2–2.5 mm long;shorter than principal.Palea linear;3 mm long.Palea apex truncate,or obtuse. FLOWER Lodicules 2;cuneate;veined;glabrous.Anthers 3;3 mm long;yellow.Ovary glabrous.