Eragrostis articulata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Glands annular (on pedicels). Culms erect; 14–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or conduplicate; 2.5–8 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 5–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–10 mm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Bahia 1995.

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