Pentameris colorata

Description

HABIT Perennial;cushion forming,or mat forming.Stolons present.Butt sheaths pallid;glossy;glabrous;persistent and investing base of culm.Glands absent.Culms 3–60 cm long;15–30 -noded.Lateral branches lacking,or sparse,or ample.Leaves mostly basal.Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface.Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking.Ligule a fringe of hairs.Leaf-blades curled;filiform;convolute;15–30 cm long;0.3–1 mm wide;stiff;eglandular.Leaf-blade surface glabrous.Leaf-blade margins scabrous.Leaf-blade apex acute. INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle;comprising 4–25 fertile spikelets. Panicle open;ovate;5–12 cm long;2–6 cm wide;bearing few spikelets.Panicle branches eglandular;glabrous in axils. Spikelets solitary.Fertile spikelets pedicelled.Pedicels filiform;1–1.5 length of fertile spikelet;eglandular;smooth,or scaberulous. FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets;without rhachilla extension.Spikelets cuneate;laterally compressed;8–13 mm long;breaking up at maturity;disarticulating below each fertile floret.Floret callus evident;pubescent. GLUMES Glumes persistent;similar;exceeding apex of florets;gaping.Lower glume elliptic;8–13 mm long;1 length of upper glume;membranous;yellow;1-keeled;1 -veined.Lower glume lateral veins absent.Lower glume apex acuminate.Upper glume elliptic;8–13 mm long;2 length of adjacent fertile lemma;membranous;yellow;1-keeled;1 -veined.Upper glume lateral veins absent.Upper glume apex acuminate. FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong;4–5 mm long;membranous;without keel;5–9 -veined.Lemma surface villous;hairy on veins.Lemma apex lobed;2 -fid;with lobes 1.5–2 mm long;awned;3 -awned.Principal lemma awn from a sinus;geniculate;13–21 mm long overall;with twisted column.Lateral lemma awns arising on inner edge of lobes;5–9 mm long;equalling glumes;shorter than principal.Palea surface glabrous,or pubescent;hairy above. FLOWER Lodicules 2;cuneate;fleshy;glabrous.Anthers 3;2.5–4 mm long;brown,or purple. FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.