Eragrostis excelsa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface to pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 40–60 cm long; 6–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 45–50 cm long; 20–30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10.5 mm long; 1.5–2.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.7 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–3.2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–3.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea 0.8–1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–1 mm long; pallid, or purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; trigonous; sulcate on hilar side; 1–1.2 mm long; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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