Eragrostis friesii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–25 cm long; evenly furnished.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–10 mm long; 1.7–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–2 mm long; membranous; dark green, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.75 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1993.

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