Eragrostis hirta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths without keel; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 25–50 cm long; 5–10 cm wide. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.75–1 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–5 mm long; 1.4–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.7–2.1 mm long; 0.9–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7–0.8 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; trigonous; sulcate on hilar side; 0.5–0.7 mm long; truncate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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