Eragrostis glutinosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Glands annular. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–45 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular (below nodes). Leaf-sheaths viscid. Leaf-sheath oral hairs woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 4.5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5.5–15 cm long; 1.5–5.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; simple; 0.5–3 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous; with scattered hairs, or glabrous. Panicle branches stiff; viscid; scabrous; with scattered hairs, or glabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.4–0.8 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4–1.6 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliate; with hairs 0.3 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.4–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Harvey 1994.

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