Eragrostis omahekensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Glands sunken crateriform. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glandular; keeled; ribbed; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 6–20 cm long; 2–5 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; 0.8–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; chartaceous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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