Eragrostis nindensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 20–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; involute; 5–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; continuous, or interrupted; 5–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading; simple, or indistinct the panicle almost racemose; 0.5–4 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–20 mm long; 2.5–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–2 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea oblong. Palea keels winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1–1.5 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.