Eragrostis elegantissima

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–8 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or ovate; 4–15 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 14–50 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 8–25 mm long; 1.2–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 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 divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.1–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

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