Eragrostis santapaui

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 6–20 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–9 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate; 1–3 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 5–10 mm long; 2–2.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.7 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; 1.6–1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; light green, or grey; eglandular; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea oblong, or obovate. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or orbicular; dorsally compressed; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Bhat 2001.

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