Eragrostis perbella

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 9–35 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 12–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–18 mm long; 2–3.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7–2.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.7–2.7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; imbricate to tip (initially), or free at tip (serrate at maturity). Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; mid-green and red; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute, or apiculate. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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