Eragrostis patentissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms 50–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 12–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or globose; effuse; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 12–32 mm long; 3 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8(–15) mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea oblanceolate. Palea keels thickened; ciliolate. Palea apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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