Eragrostis paniciformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 15–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–22 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–26 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–9 mm long; 3–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 2–2.7 mm long; membranous; dark green, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma apex cuspidate. Palea keels ciliolate (at least upper florets). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical. Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.1–0.2mm.

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