Eragrostis volkensii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms prostrate; 40–120 cm long; wiry. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades reflexed; flat, or convolute; 2–8 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–13 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; simple; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–13 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–7 mm long; 1.5–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.9–1.2 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular, or oblate; ovate in profile; 1.3–2.5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark green; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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