Eragrostis warburgii

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–70 cm long; 5–6 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–11 cm long; 1–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; loose; 25 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches capillary; glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 6–12 mm long; 2–3 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex truncate; mucronate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Henrard 2001.

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