Hyparrhenia finitima (Hochst.) Andersson ex Stapf

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

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial; culms robust, 100–200 cm. high and up to 6 mm. diameter, erect.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades up to 60 cm. long, 8 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Homogamous pairs 1 at the base of the lower or both racemes. False panicle up to 60 cm. long, copiously branched and usually rather dense; spatheoles narrowly lanceolate, 2.5–4 cm. long, the peduncles 1/3–2/3 as long; racemes 1–1.5 cm. long, 2–6-awned per pair, not deflexed; raceme-bases unequal, the upper 1.5–2.5 mm. long, softly hirtellous to pilose with white hairs.

Sessile

Sessile spikelet 5.5–6 mm. long, glabrous to hispidulous; callus linear, 1–2 mm. long; awn 2.5–4 cm. long, fulvously puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Pedicelled spikelet glabrous or rarely hispidulous, with an awn 2–5 mm. long or (in Uganda) awnless. Sessile spikelet 5.5–6 mm. long, glabrous to hispidulous; callus linear, 1–2 mm. long; awn 2.5–4 cm. long, fulvously puberulous.

Pedicelled

Pedicelled spikelet glabrous or rarely hispidulous, with an awn 2–5 mm. long or (in Uganda) awnless.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland and wooded grassland, often among rocks or on disturbed sites; 900–2000 m.

Distribution

K5 T1 T2 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 U3 U4 Sierra Leone and Ethiopia southwards to South Africa, but mainly in southern Africa

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Tufted perennial, 1–2 m. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence dense, often fastigiate

Ecology

A ruderal species of roadsides, waste land and farm fallows.

Gramineae, T. A. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:4. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial; culms up to 200 cm high and up to 6 mm in diameter, robust, erect.

Morphology Leaves Leaf sheaths

Leaf sheaths at the base of the plant pubescent to hirsute along the margins and sometimes also on the back; leaf laminas up to 60 cm × 8 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

False panicle up to 60 cm long, copiously branched and usually rather dense; spatheoles 2.5–4 cm long, narrowly lanceolate, enclosing the racemes; peduncles 1/3–2/3 the length of the spatheoles, pilose above with white hairs; racemes 1–1.5 cm long, 2–6-awned per pair, yellowish, laterally exserted, not deflexed; raceme-bases unequal, the superior 1.5–2.5 mm long, terete, softly hirtellous to pilose with white tubercle-based hairs, glabrous at the foot, the articulation with the peduncle glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Homogamous spikelets 6–8 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, a single pair at the base of the inferior or both racemes. Pedicelled spikelets 5–6 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous or rarely hispidulous, terminating in an awnlet 2–5 mm long; callus absent; pedicel-tooth up to 0.2 mm long, subulate. Sessile spikelet 5.5–6 mm long; callus 1–2 mm long, linear, acute to very narrowly truncate at the apex; inferior glume yellowish, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous to hispidulous with short white hairs; awn 2.5–4 cm long, the column fulvously puberulous.

Homogamous

Homogamous spikelets 6–8 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, a single pair at the base of the inferior or both racemes.

Sessile

Sessile spikelet 5.5–6 mm long; callus 1–2 mm long, linear, acute to very narrowly truncate at the apex; inferior glume yellowish, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous to hispidulous with short white hairs; awn 2.5–4 cm long, the column fulvously puberulous.

Pedicelled

Pedicelled spikelets 5–6 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, glabrous or rarely hispidulous, terminating in an awnlet 2–5 mm long; callus absent; pedicel-tooth up to 0.2 mm long, subulate.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 100-200 cm long. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1-2 mm long. Leaf-blades 30-60 cm long; 4-8 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Synflorescence compound; paniculate; 30-60 cm long. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole lanceolate; 2.5-4 cm long; membranous. Peduncle 1-3 cm long; pilose above. Racemes 2; paired; ascending; 1-1.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 1-3 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs white. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip oblique; flat. Raceme-bases filiform; unequal (the longer measured); 1.5-2.5 mm long; pilose, or hirsute. Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; flattened; ciliate; tip oblique.

Sterile

Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme, or 2 in upper raceme; lanceolate; 6-8 mm long; larger than fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes smooth on margins; lower glume muticous. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5-6 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; glabrous, or pubescent (hispidulous); acute; awned; one glume awned; with 2-5 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5.5-6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 1-2 mm long; pubescent; base acute; attached obliquely. Basal sterile spikelets well-developed; 2 in number (lower raceme); 0 in upper raceme, or 2 in upper raceme; lanceolate; 6-8 mm long; larger than fertile. Basal sterile spikelet glumes smooth on margins; lower glume muticous. Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; containing empty lemmas, or male; lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5-6 mm long; as long as fertile; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; glabrous, or pubescent (hispidulous); acute; awned; one glume awned; with 2-5 mm long awn. Companion sterile spikelet lemmas 2; enclosed by glumes.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5.5-6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus linear; 1-2 mm long; pubescent; base acute; attached obliquely.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; yellow; without keels; keel-less except near apex. Lower glume surface glabrous, or hispidulous. Lower glume hairs white. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume linear; coriaceous; without keels.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of fertile lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Fertile lemma linear; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 25-40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous (fulvously). Palea absent or minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

Distribution

Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

Reference

Andropogoneae. WDC.