Eragrostis moggii

HABIT Perennial. Glands sunken crateriform and annular. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 30–90 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches sparse, or ample. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 mm wide; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse. Palea membranous. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; square; laterally compressed. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

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.