Eragrostis pilgeriana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 10–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 2–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4–8 mm long; 6–7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; membranous; keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; with erose wings; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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