Eragrostis leptophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 15–30 cm long; 0.5–0.8 cm wide. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins distinct. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. 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.