Eragrostis lutensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins eglandular. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 8–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple. Panicle branches eglandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; eglandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.1–2.3 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; eglandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.2–2.4 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1997.

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