Eragrostis mokensis

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 8–30 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades ascending; 1–8 cm long; 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 5–12 cm long; 3–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–5.5 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; globose; 1.2–1.5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark green; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea orbicular. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical. South America: northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

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