Eragrostis tincta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; aerial, or shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle spiciform; 3–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2.7–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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