Eragrostis pascua

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–20 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–8 mm long; eglandular, or glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–21 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–12 mm long; 2–2.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.4–1.9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.9–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.6 mm long; membranous; dark green, or black; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; 0.8–0.9 mm long; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Eth 1997.

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