Eragrostis ambohibengensis

HABIT Annual. Culms 17–35 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose; 0.5–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 16–24 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–14 mm long; 4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.6 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 3.5 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Camus 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.