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Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Eragrostis variegata
HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 15–40 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense; 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.
GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex setaceously attenuate, or cuspidate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–0.5 mm long overall. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.75 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.
NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.