Eragrostis airoides

HABIT Perennial. Culms robust; 50–100 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–70 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 30–50 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2(–3) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.7 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.1–1.3 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or orbicular; isodiametric; 0.5–0.7 mm long; dark brown; reticulate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Pat 1995.

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