Eragrostis cylindrica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 45–90 cm long; 1–1.2 mm diam. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface to pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 5–13 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 7–15 cm long; 1–1.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; 1–1.7 cm long; bearing 5–8 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–9 mm long; 1.8–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea bowed outwards. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Japan 1997.

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