Eragrostis bemarivensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths striately veined. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; convolute; 10–20 cm long.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 20–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate. Panicle branches glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–15 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–50 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; 2.2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.7–0.9 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2.5 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–2.8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–2.9 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. 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.