Eragrostis usambarensis

HABIT Perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms decumbent; 40–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–25 cm long; 2–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 12–28 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 4–8 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3.5–9 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.3–1.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–1.6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.7–2.3 mm long; cartilaginous; mid-green, or grey, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.6 mm long.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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