Eragrostis gloeodes

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–40 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes glandular (below nodes); distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths viscid; keeled; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 9–18 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–30 cm long; 15–25 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate. Panicle axis glandular. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.5 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Ekman 2002.

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