Eragrostis amanda

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 120–250 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; dense; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches not whorled.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 6–14 mm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.2 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla, or divergent. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2.6–3 mm long; membranous; dark brown and purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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