Eragrostis intermedia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 55–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–40 cm long; 15–30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–3 -nate; 10–25 cm long. Panicle branches stiff; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 1.6–1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.4–2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; membranous; mid-green, or grey, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; sulcate on hilar side; 0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1993.

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