Eragrostis rotifer

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 60–150 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 25–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches pubescent in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; not gibbous; elliptic in profile; 1.1–1.5 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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