Eragrostiella collettii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 40–60 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal; without demarcation between sheath and blade. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 10–17 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 12–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally convex along back; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea ovate; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; isodiametric; 0.5 mm long. Embryo 0.4 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lazarides.

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