Eragrostis ambrensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 3.5–5.5 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–14 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 4–5 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; membranous; dark green (olive); keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.5 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Camus 2007.

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