Eragrostis perrieri

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 5–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 1.5–4 cm long; 2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or glomerate; linear; 1.5–3 cm long; 0.4–0.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.25 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.8 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Camus 1994.

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