Eragrostis longifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths coriaceous; distinctly ribbed; persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 25–50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 3–25 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–10 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–17 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 2–3.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–3.2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma ovate; lanceolate in profile; 2.5–3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. TAC.

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