Eragrostis stenothyrsa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 25–50 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–8 mm long; 0.5–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets overlapping 0.66 their length. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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