Eragrostis dentifera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute; 5–12(–17) cm long; 0.5–2.5(–4) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 10–16(–20) cm long; 7–9(–12) cm wide. Panicle branches angular; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–4(–6) mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; (4–)6–10(–12) mm long; 2–2.5(–2.75) mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.6 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma oblong; 3.2 mm long; membranous; dark green, or black; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with outer lobes shorter; incised 0.3–0.4 of lemma length. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.8–0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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