Eragrostis prolifera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–150 cm long. Lateral branches fastigiate. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 7–17 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1–4 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4–15 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 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; 1.3–1.7 mm long; membranous; mid-green, or dark brown; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia, west tropical, west-central tropical, and southern tropical. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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