Eragrostis variegata

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 15–40 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense; 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex setaceously attenuate, or cuspidate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–0.5 mm long overall. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.75 mm long.

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.