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Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Eragrostis poculiformis
HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 12–25 cm long. Culm-internodes eglandular. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths eglandular; without keel; pilose (above); with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute (loosely); 2–4 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches not whorled; sterile at the tips. Panicle branches flexible; flexuous; eglandular; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; bearded in axils; with insignificant pulvini.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 5–9 mm long.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; subterete; 3.5–5 mm long; 1.8–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.
GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate (narrowly); 1.1–1.3 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate (narrowly); 0.6–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic (broadly); 1–1.3 mm long; membranous; mid-green, or grey; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins pilose. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea bowed outwards; 0.4–0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged (above); conspicuously winged (above); scabrous; ciliate; adorned above. Palea surface pilose; hairy on margins. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6 mm long.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.
NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 2000.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.