Eragrostis macrochlamys

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous, or sparsely hairy. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 4–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths eglandular, or glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; eglandular, or glandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 2–6 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; eglandular, or glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; glandular (on keel); 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular (on keel); 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2 mm long; membranous; pallid, or grey; eglandular, or glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.2–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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