Eragrostiella leioptera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; wiry; 1–2 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal; differentiated into sheath and blade. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 20–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 13–22 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular (but interrupted below); 2 -rowed.

Spikelets ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 13–19 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 9–12 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets falling as a whole.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 1.75–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.25–2.5 mm long; chartaceous; dark green, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea ovate; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged (0.3mm wide); eciliate. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; isodiametric; 0.75–1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lazarides.

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