Eragrostis patens

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 6–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong, or ovate; continuous, or interrupted (in cuneate clusters); 2–10 cm long; 1.5–6 cm wide. Panicle branches glabrous, or pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–70 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 7–40 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.5–4 mm long; membranous; pallid, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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