Eragrostis plana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or open; linear, or lanceolate; 12–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glandular.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; membranous; dark green; shiny; glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins thickened. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; laterally compressed; 1.4–1.5 mm long; dark brown; rugose (obscurely bumpy).

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-tropical: Indo-China. Australasia: New Zealand. South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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