Eragrostis aristata

HABIT Annual. Glands sunken crateriform. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–75 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glandular; ribbed. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–6.5 mm wide; flaccid; glandular. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins glandular; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long; 10–15 cm wide; contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches secund; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.6–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.75 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 3 -fid; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed; excurrent. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1.5 mm long overall. Palea bowed outwards. Palea keels scabrous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; light brown, or dark brown. Embryo 0.5–0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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