Echinochloa holciformis

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 100–150 cm long; 10–15 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 20–30 cm long; 5–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous; ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; unilateral; 4–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–30 cm long. Rhachis subterete. Spikelet packing 4 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; subequal. Pedicels unequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; cuspidate; 6–7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or cuspidate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–2 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; hispidulous; hairy on veins; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret (10–)35–50 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; laterally pinched; mucronate. Palea reflexed at apex; coriaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Nov Gall.

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