Eragrostis homblei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 20–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–7 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2.7 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic, or obovate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; dark green, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth, or scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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