Description :

• Perennial, tufted
• Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, flaccid, rolled; ligule a short, unfringed membrane
• Inflorescence an open panicle, ± 1-sided, branches filiform, drooping, mostly solitary or paired and rather far apart on central axis; spikelets pedicelled
• Spikelet not noticeably compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes unequal, shorter than spikelet, similar, membranous, margins hyaline, rounded on back, apex subacute to acute, awnless; lower glume 3-nerved; upper glume 5-nerved, often with transverse nerves
• Florets 2-6, loosely arranged, lower 2-4 florets usually bisexual; uppermost floret male, sterile or greatly reduced; lower lemmas lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, similar to firmer in texture to glumes, becoming indurated (chartaceous) at maturity, rounded on back, distinctly 7-nerved, shortly 2-lobed, rarely entire, awned from back beneath sinus of lobes; awn geniculate, up to 3 times longer than body of lemma, flexuous, scaberulous, intertwined with awns from other florets so that spikelet falls as an unit; callus long, pointed, hairy; palea shorter than lemma, 2-keeled, linear
• Lodicules 2, minute, cuneate-truncate, glabrous or ciliate
• Stamens 3
• Ovary glabrous, oblong; styles distinct, plumose above
• x = 10

Nomenclature:

• Streblochaete Pilg.
  • Pilger: 61 (1906)
  • Chippindall: 82 (1955)
  • Hubbard: 74 (1970)
  • Launert: 66 (1971)
  • Clayton & Renvoize: 115 (1986)
  • Gibbs Russell et al.: 329 (1990)
  • Watson & Dallwitz: 912 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species 1: Streblochaete longiarista (A. Rich.) Pilg., tropical Africa, Réunion, Indonesia, Philippines
• Southern Africa : Eastern Cape