Eragrostis latifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Glands annular. Culms erect; 35–70 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths eglandular; without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base amplexicaul. Leaf-blades 5–6.5 cm long; 5 mm wide; eglandular. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; loose; 16 cm long. Panicle branches eglandular; bearded in axils; with insignificant pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; 1.1–1.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally straight along back; 1.8 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1996.

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