Eragrostis thollonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous to pubescent; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 80–150 cm long; 1–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–25 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; 11–25 cm long; 4–10 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–6.5 mm long; 4–4.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.8 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.3–3.2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.4–3.3 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea obovate. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; eciliate. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; without sulcus.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west-central tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1993.

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