Eragrostis acutiglumis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 25–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 3–7 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; involute; 6–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 15–30 cm long; 11–20 cm wide; 0.66 of culm length. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate. Panicle axis 4 noded. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–17 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 6–13 mm long; 1.8–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 1.8–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 1.8–3 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.7 mm long. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or ovoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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