Eragrostis cimicina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous to pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 80–150 cm long; 1–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–25 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 11–25 cm long; 4–10 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–6 mm long; 3–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.6–2.2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.4–3 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea obovate; 2.2–2.8 mm long; cartilaginous. Palea keels approximate; wingless; scaberulous; eciliate. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; sulcate on hilar side; 1.4–2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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