Eragrostis capensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths glabrous, or pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths, or fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect, or decumbent; 10–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–35 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or ovate; 4–11 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–35 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate to orbicular; laterally compressed; 3.5–15 mm long; 3–7 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1–3 mm long; 0.4–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels puberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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