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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Eragrostis obtusa
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous to pubescent. Culms 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; ovate; 2–12 cm long; 1.5–8 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.3 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.
NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.