Eragrostis ambleia

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long; evenly furnished, or contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches stiff; straight; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex truncate. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or orbicular; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

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