Eragrostis magna

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms robust; 100–150 cm long; 3–6 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 40–60 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 30–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 10–20 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis glabrous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1995.

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