Eragrostis inamoena

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose, or effuse; 7–25 cm long; evenly furnished.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–20 mm long; 2–3(–3.5) 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 ovate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.5 mm long; membranous; dark green, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7–1 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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