Eragrostis sericata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths papery; without ribs; villous. Culms erect; 50–95 cm long. Culm-internodes eglandular. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; eglandular; without keel; hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 2–3.5 mm wide; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 12–15 cm long. Panicle branches eglandular; glabrous in axils; with insignificant pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–5 mm long; eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 11–13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; 4–4.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.7–3 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1996.

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