Eragrostis procumbens

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins glandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 3–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glandular.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 12–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.5 mm long; membranous; yellow, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.7–0.9 mm long; dark brown (light).

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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