Eragrostis caesia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 45–60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 1.5–2.4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; dark green and black; streaked with last colour (along veins); keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea keels ciliolate; with hairs 0.05–0.1 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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