Eragrostis kingesii

HABIT Annual. Butt sheaths glabrous, or sparsely hairy. Glands sunken crateriform, or annular. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 3–10 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes glandular. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; glandular. Leaf-blade margins glandular.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 4–5 cm long; 2–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–3 -nate. Panicle branches glandular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; eglandular, or glandular; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; membranous; grey; glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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