Eragrostis divaricata

HABIT Annual. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 35–40 cm long. Culm-internodes eglandular. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths eglandular; without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–8 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 3–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches branching divaricately. Panicle branches eglandular; bearded in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.3–1.8 mm long; 0.7–0.9 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.1–1.3 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1996.

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