Eragrostis sclerantha

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly; with white hairs. Culms erect; 20–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 7–35 cm long; evenly furnished, or contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets spreading, or appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2–8 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–1.7 mm long; chartaceous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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