Eragrostis alta

HABIT Annual; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect; 120–150 cm long; 3–4 mm diam.; 5–7 -noded; with 0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose; 15–24 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; as wide as blade at the collar; reticulately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–45 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate; 15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–3 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3 mm long; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; less than two thirds length of lemma. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels eciliate, or ciliolate. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Keng 1996.

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