Eragrostis sarmentosa

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes short. Stolons present. Culms decumbent; 15–40 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2.5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 3–7 mm long; 1.5–1.7 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4 mm long; membranous; grey and purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; 0.6 mm long. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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