Eragrostis boriana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Glands sunken crateriform. Culms geniculately ascending; 40–50 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–14 cm long; 1.5–5 mm wide; glandular. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–25 cm long; 3–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1 -nate; 3–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; 1.3–1.75 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; glandular (on keel); 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.4–1.6 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; glandular (on keel); 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.6–1.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Iran 1993.

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