Eragrostis brainii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–130 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 13–20 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose; hairy at tip.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.6–0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.3–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp; oblong, or orbicular; 1 mm long; striate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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