Eragrostis scotelliana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–18 cm long; 1–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 4–20 cm long. Panicle branches glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–8 mm long; 2.5–3.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.5 mm long; membranous; glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins pilose. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical and west-central tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

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