Eragrostis kuchariana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 55–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with clavellate hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 3 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 25–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 14–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 12–24 mm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret, or below groups of fertile florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1.7–1.9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 2.2–2.3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 2.3–2.6 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Phillips 1997.

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