Eragrostis cataclasta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 3–15 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–24 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 3–10 mm long; 0.8–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2.2 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; glaucous, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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