Eragrostis castellaneana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–45 cm long; 2–10 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 8–50 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate (rarely). Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.5–0.7 mm.

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