Eragrostis paradoxa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 15–30 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; involute; 5–25 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–8 cm long; 3.5–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; branching dichotomously. Panicle branches flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–7 mm long; smooth, or scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; 3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2.8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 3–3.2 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5 mm long; 2.5–2.7 mm wide; membranous; much thinner above; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea elliptic; 3 mm long. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.3 mm long; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Launert 1993.

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