Eragrostis subglandulosa

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Glands sunken crateriform. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Culm-internodes eglandular. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths eglandular; without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 3.5–10 cm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide; eglandular. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5.5–16 cm long. Panicle branches glandular (at base); glabrous in axils; with insignificant pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.8–3.5 mm long; glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4.2–7.5 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas; fragile above. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.7 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.6–1.9 mm long; membranous; grey and purple; tipped with last colour; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1996.

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