Eragrostis coarctata

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms geniculately ascending; 8–60 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 4–9 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 2–7 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.25–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.25–1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy all along, or below, or at base. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or ovoid; 0.5 mm long; light brown, or dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Assam 1993.

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