Eragrostis welwitschii

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 6–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2.5–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense, or loose; 2.5–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–30 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.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers (2–)3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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