Eragrostis micrantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Culm-internodes eglandular, or glandular. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular; keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 10–30 cm long; 4–14 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; profusely divided. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2–4 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels approximate; eciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.6–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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