Eragrostis fauriei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–20 cm long; 5–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10 mm long; 2.2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface punctate. Lemma apex acute. Palea bowed outwards; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Ohwi 1996.

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