Eragrostis obtusa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous to pubescent. Culms 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–12 cm long; 1.5–8 cm wide. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.3 mm long.

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