Eragrostis aquatica

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long; 0.8–1.2 mm diam.; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes 1–6 cm long; smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 4–20 cm long; 1.8–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; loose; 12–22 cm long; 5–20 cm wide; 0.33 of culm length. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis 5–8 noded; with lower internodes 1–4 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–23 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 6–12 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; chartaceous; grey and purple; suffused with last colour; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea bowed outwards. Palea keels scabrous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Japan 1997.

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