Eragrostis attenuata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 20–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–4(–7) cm long; 1(–3) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 20–40 cm long; 0.3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.5–3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.7–0.8 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 ovate; 1.2 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 lemma ovate; 1.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1995.

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