Eragrostis capitulifera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 8–35 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–16 cm long; 2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal, or terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences similar to terminal.

Panicle capitate; globose, or ovate; 0.5–1.5 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–6 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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