Eragrostis braunii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–90 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–13 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 3–15 cm long; 0.4–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.5–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.7–2.2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.2 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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