Eragrostis truncata

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming, or mat forming. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 20–40 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–4(–10) cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–8 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.7–2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex truncate. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7–1 mm long. 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.