Eragrostis deflexa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 20–40 cm long; 6–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; whorled at most nodes. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 2–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1993.

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