Eragrostis kuschelii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; interrupted; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–0.6 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–1.9 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–2.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 0.66 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.2 mm long; fleshy. Anthers 0.3–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.9–1 mm long; light brown. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Nicora 2001.

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