Eragrostis squamata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–30 cm long; 1–3(–6) mm wide; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 6–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff; straight.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 5–25 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.6 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.8–1 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; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; grey, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, and northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FWTA.

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