Eragrostis hierniana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; loose, or effuse; 6–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–12 mm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.7–2.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; dark brown; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; lanceolate in profile; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma margins eciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels tuberculate; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; isodiametric; 1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.3–0.7mm.

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