Eragrostis cenolepis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 10–20 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–15 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or obovate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; separately deciduous. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume. Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.1mm.

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