Eragrostis alopecuroides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades 17–20 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade venation distinct; with 4–6 secondary veins. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 2–8 cm long. Panicle axis plumose (below).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea keels tuberculate; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Indo-Chine 1997.

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