Eriochrysis purpurata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 15–60 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 4–7; borne along a central axis; appressed; linear, or oblong; 1–3 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–8 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes linear; 2–3 mm long. Rhachis internode tip clavate.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller (female). Pedicels linear; 2–3 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 5–7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base and with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs yellow, or dark brown; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; dull. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins distinct. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume elliptic; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

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

NOTES Andropogoneae. FW 1995.

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