Eragrostis duricaulis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 60–80 cm long; 1–1.2 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.1–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 5–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 12–22 cm long; 4–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; 3–6 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long; eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–16 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4–9 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; yellow, or grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1.6 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or orbicular; 0.5–0.6 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl China 2005.

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