Eragrostis gloeophylla

HABIT Annual. Culms 4–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glandular; viscid; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–10 cm long; 1–6 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 2–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–19 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating into irregular segments, or falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 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 oblong; 2–3.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex truncate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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