Eragrostis conertii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms geniculately ascending; 25–50 cm long; 1.8–2 mm diam.; 6–9 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes terete; striate; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths with 0.33 of their length closed; longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 4 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1.5–2 cm long; 4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 11–15 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; 1–2.5 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–12 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long; light brown. Embryo 0.5–0.66 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lobin 2003.

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