Eragrostis chapelieri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 20–40 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 4–22 cm long; 1–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 15–50 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6–24 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.4–2.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.4–2.3 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–3 mm long; membranous; dark brown, or red; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.3–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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