Eragrostis vulcanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 50 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; without keel; inner surface glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins smooth. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 30 cm long; 7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; acute; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Jedwabnik 2001.

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