Eragrostis exelliana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms prostrate; 5–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 0.5–13 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 1–9 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 0.2–2 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff; glabrous, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.5–5 mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

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 surface glabrous, or pilose (sparsely). Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose (sparsely). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate, or orbicular; 1.2–1.7 mm long; cartilaginous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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