Schmidtia kalahariensis
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Image 1
Inflorescence
29 Apr 2021
Image 2
Leaves
29 Apr 2021
Image 3
Leaves
29 Apr 2021
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Full name: | Schmidtia kalahariensis Stent |
| ID status: | Fairly certain |
| Afrikaans common name(s): | Kalaharigras, Kalahari suurgras, Suurgras, Kalahari sandkweek, Eenjarige vyfnaaldgras |
| English common name(s): | Bushman grass, Annual bushman grass, Sour grass, Kalahari sour grass, Kalahari sand quick |
| Synonym(s): | - |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: | A coarse caespitose annual. Culms 8-70(90) cm. tall, prostrate, decumbent or geniculate, 3-6 (or more)-noded, simple or repeatedly branched, usually rooting at the lower nodes, coarsely striate, pubescent or hirsute with tubercle-based hairs; the lower internodes short, the uppermost long-exserted but usually less slender than in S. pappophoroides. Leaf-sheaths loose, easily slipping off the culm, striate, hirsute or pubescent, viscous from gland-tipped hairs. Leaf-laminae (1)2.5-14(20) x (0.3)0.7-1.75 cm., linear-lanceolate or narrowly triangular-lanceolate, abruptly tapering to an acute apex, expanded or sometimes involute towards the apex, more rarely entirely involute, densely pubescent on both surfaces and viscous from gland-tipped hairs. Panicle (2.5)4-12(15) x 1.5-3(4) cm., erect or very rarely somewhat drooping, linear, narrowly oblong, lanceolate or rarely narrowly elliptic in outline, usually contracted, spike-like, but sometimes open and lax; branches rather short, appressed to the rhachis or at least the lower ones obliquely ascending to spreading, usually hairy. Spikelets pedicelled to subsessile, up to 1 .75 cm. long, elliptic-oblong to obovate-triangular in outline, sericeous-villous. Glumes dark green, lead-grey-green or green, apex acute to subobtuse or rarely slightly lacerate, usually with tubercle-based gland-tipped hairs, smooth or very rarely asperulous; the inferior 4.8-9(-11) mm. long, (7)9-12(14)-nerved; the superior 6.6-15 mm. long, slightly shorter than or as long as or somewhat longer than the spikelet, 9-14-nerved. Lowest lemma 7.75-15 mm. long; awns (3.2)5-10.5 mm. long. Keels of the palea, besides the stiff cilia, always with conspicuous glandular hairs either along the entire keel or confined to the apical region. Anthers 1.75-3.5 mm. long. Caryopsis c. 2 mm. long, light golden-brown or yellowish-brown, somewhat translucent; embryo a little smaller than in the proceeding sp. (from JSTOR Global Plants website / Flora Zambesiaca) Habit: Annual; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 8-70(-90) cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent; with capitate hairs. Leaf-sheaths viscid; pubescent; with capitate hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2.5-14 cm long; 7-17.5 mm wide; glaucous; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides; with capitate hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute. Inflorescences: Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open, or contracted; oblong; (2.5-)4-12(-15) cm long; 1.5-3(-4) cm wide. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets : Spikelets comprising 3-5(-7) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 10-17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus bearded; acute. Fertile: Spikelets comprising 3-5(-7) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 10-17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Floret callus bearded; acute. Glume: Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4.8-9(-11) mm long; 0.6-0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; grey; without keels; (7-)9-11(-13) -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 6.6-15 mm long; 0.8-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; without keels; (7-)9-11(-13) -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute. Florets: Fertile lemma cuneate; 7.75-15 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 6 -fid; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 5 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; (3.2-)5-10.5 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising between lobes; subequal to principal. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Flowers: Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1.75-3 mm long. Fruits: Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Distribution: Africa: southern tropical and south. Reference: Pappophoreae. FZ. Diagnostic: Glandular hairs conspicuous on palea keels. (Plants of World Online) |
| Link(s) |
African Plant Database
JSTOR Plant Science Kew Herbarium Catalogue BGBM Berlin-Dahlem - Virtual Herbarium Züricher Herbarien iNaturalist (Namibia / Alex Dreyer) iNaturalist (Namibia) iNaturalist (southern Africa) Flora of Zimbabwe Fleurs de notre Terre - Galerie Namibie Tree Atlas of Namibia |
| Content last updated: | 18 Apr 2024 |
