Eragrostis invalida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–15 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–35 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6–13 mm long; 4–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; 1–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

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