Eragrostis mauiensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 10–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–25 cm long; 5–7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches straight; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.7 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1–1.2 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1993.

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