Eragrostis comptonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms erect; 50–110 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam.; wiry; 4–9 -noded. Culm-internodes 10 cm long; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 30–50 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent; with 9–11 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 2–5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately, or disarticulating into irregular segments.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.25–1.5 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3 mm long; truncate. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.8–1 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. De Winter 2002.

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