Eragrostis vatovae

HABIT Annual. Culms 8–18 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 8 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches simple; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; exceeding apex of florets, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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