Eragrostis decumbens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 2–15 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate; 1–2 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1–4(–6) cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–8 mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1–1.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliate; with hairs 0.5 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.2–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Renvoize 1997.

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