Eragrostis gummiflua

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Glands elongated. Culms 30–90 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular. Leaf-sheaths glandular; viscid. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 25–50 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–30 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; 1–1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical, south, and western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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