Eragrostis saxatilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 20–40 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; aerial, or shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; linear; 8–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: middle Atlantic ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1997.

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