Poaceae
Eragrostis

Eragrostis incrassata Cope

First published in Kew Bull. 47: 280 (1992)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Somalia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Stolons present. Culms 20-40 cm long. Leaves distichous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2-8 cm long; 1-2.5 mm wide; glaucous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or oblong; 3-9 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 6-16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6-17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 6-16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6-17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2.2-2.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2.2-2.6 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile florets appressed to rhachilla. Fertile lemma elliptic in profile, or ovate in profile; 2.3-2.8(-3.4) mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.3-1.4 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Africa: northeast tropical.
Reference
Eragrostideae. TAC.
[GB]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Type
N2, “Erigavo”, McKinnon 232 (K holo., BM iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Tufted, glaucous perennial up to 40 cm high; base of plant much-branched, woody, spreading by long woody rhizomes and stolons
Morphology Leaves
Leaves distichous, inrolled, sometimes flat
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Panicle oblong or narrowly lanceolate, 3–9 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets linear or narrowly oblong, 6–17 mm long, up to 16-flowered; glumes subequal, ovate or lanceolate, 2.2–2.6 mm long, acute; lemmas ovate-elliptic or ovate in profile, membranous, 2.3–2.8(–3.4) mm long, subacute or rarely obtuse; palea-keels scabrid; anthers 3, 1.3–1.4 mm long.
Distribution
N2 known only from the area around “Erigavo”.
Ecology
Altitude range c. 1750 m.
Vernacular
Ris (Somali)
Note
A very distinctive species forming extensive mats, or tufts connected by woody rhizomes and stolons. The mode of disarticulation of the spikelet is not yet known.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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