Eragrostis superba

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 2–10 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple, or moderately divided. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–28(–47) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 6–16(–23) mm long; 3–10 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 0.6–0.9 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; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels thickened; winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south. Asia-tropical: India. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: north-central. North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and northern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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