Eragrostis sabulosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 6–15 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline; distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–4 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 1–4 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.33 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–2.5 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate; with hairs 0.05–0.1 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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