Eragrostis guianensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 13–25 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades curled; filiform; involute; 0.6–1 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 5–10 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–15 cm long; 3–7 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 19–55 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 7–25 mm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.6 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.6 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea bowed outwards. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.1–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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