Eragrostis lappula

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

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or ovate; 10–30 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous, or pilose; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; yellow; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; lanceolate in profile; 2–3 mm long; membranous; dark brown, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma lateral veins extending close to apex. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough on veins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels tuberculate; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

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

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.5–1.2mm.

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