Eragrostis mildbraedii

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 10–40 cm long. Leaves distichous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–8 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–8 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 3–10 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7–1.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.7–1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; membranous; dark brown and purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.9 mm long.

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

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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