Eragrostis triangularis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 70–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–20 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Henrard 1995.

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