Eragrostis astrepta

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 8–23 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–4 cm long; 2–3.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins eglandular. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 3–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long; eglandular, or glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–7.5 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.3–1 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip (outline serrate). Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Eth 1997.

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