Eragrostis mollior

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect; 60–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat; 15–40 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; dense, or loose, or effuse; 15–55 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple, or moderately divided; without sterile bristles, or sterile at the tips.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 4–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7(–10) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2.5–4(–4.5) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.6–1.3 mm long; 0.7–1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.8–2 mm long; 0.5–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.2 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma margins eciliate, or pubescent. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.1–0.5mm.

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