Eragrostis georgii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 0.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–7 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; elliptic; 3–4 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Gabon 1997.

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