Eragrostis saresberiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Basal innovations subterete. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, or flat; 8–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5–11 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.3–0.8 mm long; 0.3–0.5 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.7 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla; free at tip. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; lanceolate in profile; 2–2.6 mm long; membranous; purple and yellow; tipped with last colour; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; laterally compressed; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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