Eragrostis chabouisii

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–18 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; 1–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous.

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.