Eragrostis vacillans

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 8–40 cm long; 4–6 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–6 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; effuse; 2–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; 1.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 0.75–1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1993.

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