Eragrostis elongata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle glomerate; linear; 8–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches 0.5–3.75 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3–6 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern, northwestern, and north-central. South America: Mesoamericana and Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Cent Austr.

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