Eragrostis balgooyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal and intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–24 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 27–47 cm long; 8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1 -nate; 2–4.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scaberulous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–5.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 11.5–20 mm long; 2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.6 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8 mm long; reticulate.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Veldkamp 2002.

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