Eragrostis grandis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; robust; 100–200 cm long; 10–20 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; 5–10 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 25–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; whorled at most nodes; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous; rough distally; bearded in axils.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.8 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1993.

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