Aeluropus pilosus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms prostrate; 5–30 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–12; borne along a central axis; in a bilateral false spike; appressed; unilateral; 0.5–1.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–4(–7) cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–2.2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface hirsute; hairy all along. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; dorsally compressed; plano-convex. Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Yang 1996.

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