Eragrostis olivacea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 25–90(–150) cm long; 1–2(–5) mm diam. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, or flat (rarely); 6–30(–55) cm long; 1–2(–8) mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; dense, or loose, or effuse; 5–25(–50) cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)5–7(–20) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–4.5(–8) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.3–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.3–2.5 mm long; 0.7–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

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

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.2–0.5mm.

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