Eragrostis pusilla

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–42 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1–1.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.2–0.3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 0.5–0.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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