Eragrostis tef

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 20–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches flexuous; glabrous in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.5–9 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; persistent on plant.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.7–3 mm long; 0.8–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla, or divergent (at maturity). Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2–2.7 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.1–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; exposed between gaping lemma and palea at maturity; 1–1.2 mm long; pallid, or dark brown, or red.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central and eastern. Africa: north, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean. Asia-temperate: Arabia. Asia-tropical: India and Malesia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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