Eragrostis capuronii

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Glands wart-like. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 5–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–3.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins eglandular, or glandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or oblong; 2–12 cm long; 0.5–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1 -nate; 0.5–2.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis eglandular, or glandular. Panicle branches eglandular, or glandular; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; eglandular, or glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2–8 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.6–0.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.8–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1–1.4 mm long; membranous; grey, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Madag 1997.

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