Eriochloa boliviensis

HABIT Annual. Culms 80–140 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–55 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1.5–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; pilose on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing crowded.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; villous; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus globular; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; herbaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent; muticous. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bolivia 1997.

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