Eragrostis hondurensis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–65 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm and mid culm. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glandular; viscid; without keel; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; viscid. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 9–33 cm long; 3–10 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches glandular; viscid; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7.5 mm long; 0.9–1.3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.4–1.7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 1.4–1.5 mm long; membranous; viscid; keeled; lightly keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex truncate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliate; with hairs 0.2–1.5 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.1–0.3 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5–0.6 mm long; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Meso-Am 1997.

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