Eragrostis setulifera

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–17 cm long; 3–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; effuse; 6–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending (at 45 degrees). Panicle branches stiff; eglandular, or glandular; viscid, or without exudate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular, or glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

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

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent, or extending close to apex. Lemma apex truncate; mucronate. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: east tropical and southern tropical.

NOTES Eragrostideae. FTEA.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Palea hairs 0.5–0.7mm.

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