Eragrostis rupestris

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–75 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or convolute; 5–15 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 5–7.5 cm long; 0.8 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.3–1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex cuspidate. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Blatt & McCann 1994.

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