Eragrostis turgida

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 8–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–18 cm long; 2–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 3–14 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches simple; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff; eglandular, or glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–80 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; 3–20 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–2.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma orbicular; hemispherical; 1.5–2.5 mm long; coriaceous; yellow and purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or hispidulous; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; 1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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