Eragrostis cumingii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths 2.5–3.5 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 6–12 cm long; 2–4 cm wide; with spikelets clumped along branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–15 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8 mm long; membranous; glandular on veins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid, or orbicular; 4 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. North America: southeast USA. South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gilliland 1993.

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