Eragrostis raynaliana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 1–2 -noded. Culm-nodes black. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–20 cm long; 4–5 cm wide. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–6 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lebrun 1993.

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