Eriochrysis brachypogon (Stapf) Stapf

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips & S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose perennial; culms 60–90 cm. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades 7–30 cm. long, 1–3 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence linear to narrowly oblong, 4–14 cm. long, comprising 4–16 racemes; racemes 2–4 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Sessile spikelet narrowly elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–5 mm. long, the callus bearded with rufous (sometimes tawny) hairs up to 1/2 as long as the spikelet; lower glume coriaceous, shining, the nerves obscure, ciliate on the margins; upper glume usually glabrous on the keel. Pedicelled spikelet 3–4 mm. long.

Sessile

Sessile spikelet narrowly elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 3.5–5 mm. long, the callus bearded with rufous (sometimes tawny) hairs up to 1/2 as long as the spikelet; lower glume coriaceous, shining, the nerves obscure, ciliate on the margins; upper glume usually glabrous on the keel.

Pedicelled

Pedicelled spikelet 3–4 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 162.

Habitat

In swamps; 1000–2300 m.

Distribution

K3 K5 T1 T7 U1 U4 tropical and South Africa

Morphology General Habit

Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60-90 cm long. Culm-internodes thin-walled. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a fringe of hairs; erose. Leaf-blades 7-45 cm long; 1-3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-16; borne along a central axis; appressed; linear to oblong; 2-4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4-14 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs red. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip clavate. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller (female). Pedicels linear; ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base and with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs red; 0.3-0.5 length of spikelet.

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5-5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base and with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs red; 0.3-0.5 length of spikelet.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex dentate; 3 -fid. Upper glume elliptic; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein eciliate. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Palea absent or minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3.

Distribution

Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, northeast tropical, east tropical, southern tropical, and south.

Reference

Andropogoneae. FW 1995.

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:2. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, about 1·2 m. high

Ecology

Swampy soils.

Gramineae, T. A. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:4. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Like E. pallida, but callus barbate with rufous hairs up to half the length of the spikelet and inferior glume coriaceous, shining, the nerves obscure.