Eragrostis frankii

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 15–35 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–15 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 6–13 cm long; 0.5 of culm length.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.4 mm long; 0.75–1 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; 1.2–1.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Indiana 1994.

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