Eragrostis psammophila

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 9–17 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–4 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.9–1.1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–1.8 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex emarginate, or truncate. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.25–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Phillips 1997.

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