Eragrostis habrantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 20–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; profusely divided. Panicle branches capillary; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1–2 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 0.7 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.3 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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