Poaceae
Elytrophorus

Elytrophorus globularis Hack.

First published in Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 2: 935 (1902)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Congo, Tanzania to S. Africa. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Gramineae, T. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:2. 1999

Morphology General Habit
Annual up to 60 cm tall, erect; leaf laminas up to 30 cm × 7 mm, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence 3–14 cm long, the glomerules globular, 5–11 mm in diameter, sometimes contiguous but scarcely confluent, the bracts usually exceeding the spikelets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes 2.6–4.5 mm long, lanceolate, crispate-hirsute; lemmas 3.6–4.8 mm long (including awn), ovate-lanceolate, acuminate to a short stiff awn-point; palea wings conspicuous and projecting from the sides of the lemma.
[FZ]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Annual; culms 5–60 cm. high, erect.
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades up to 25 cm. long and 6 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Panicle 3–20 cm. long, the glomerules 5–11 mm. in diameter, often contiguous but scarcely confluent, the bracts usually exceeding the spikelets, up to 10 mm. long, acicular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Glumes subequal, 4.5–6 mm. long; lemma 3.5–5 mm. long (including awn), acuminate to a short stiff awn-point; palea-wings variously notched; lodicules 1–2; anthers 1–3, 0.3–2.2 mm. long.
Habitat
Wet depressions; 1500 m.
Distribution
Zambia to South Africa T5
[FTEA]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Annual. Culms erect; 5-60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5-25 cm long; 2-6 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle glomerate; linear; interrupted; 3-20 cm long; 0.5-1.1 cm wide. Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 3-5 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets sessile; 3-5 in the cluster. Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets.
Sterile
Companion sterile spikelets represented by single glumes; linear; 1.5-3 mm long; longer than fertile; persistent. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; 1 -veined; truncate; awned; with 1-5 mm long awn.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 3-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Companion sterile spikelets represented by single glumes; linear; 1.5-3 mm long; longer than fertile; persistent. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; 1 -veined; truncate; awned; with 1-5 mm long awn.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 3-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4-7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5-2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1-1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5-2 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1-1.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma ovate; 2-3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1-2 mm long overall. Palea orbicular; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; with toothed wings. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 1, or 2. Anthers 1-3; 1.5-2 mm long. Stigmas 2; sparsely hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.
Distribution
Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.
Reference
Arundineae. FTEA.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/