Eragrostis nomnov(Eragrostis rigida Camus)

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes, or longer than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; convolute; 8–10 cm long; 2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 cm long. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.22–0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–1.8 mm long; membranous; light green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; mucronate. Palea 1.5–1.7 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Camus 2004.

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