Eragrostis erosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 70–110 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 30–45 cm long; 15 cm wide; 0.33 of culm length. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; subdividing 2–3 times; 8–18 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; 1–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.4 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 2.4–2.5 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.8–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; mid-green and yellow; tipped with last colour; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex erose; acute. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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