Poaceae
Eragrostis

Eragrostis kingesii De Winter

First published in Bothalia 7: 470 (1961)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Namibia to Cape Prov. It is an annual and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General 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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences 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.
Fertile
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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers 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.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.
Distribution
Africa: south.
Reference
Eragrostideae. Gr S Afr 1993.
[GB]

Sources

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0