Eragrostiella lolioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 20–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide; stiff; grey-green. Leaf-blade venation indistinct. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; unilateral; 10–30 cm long; bearing 7–35 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; 3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex truncate. Palea ovate; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.75 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hand-Mazz 1996.

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