Eragrostis trachyantha

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins eglandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; effuse; 15–30 cm long; 0.66 of culm length. Primary panicle branches distant; simple. Panicle branches eglandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–9 mm long; eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–26 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 8–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; eglandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.3–2.7 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; eglandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.3–2.6 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins thickened. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1997.

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