Eragrostis pallens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; robust; 30–200 cm long; 2–4 mm diam. Culm-internodes glaucous. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 50–100 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 8–20 cm long; evenly furnished, or contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–15 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating between fertile florets but the distal falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4–2 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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