Eragrostis lugens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 8–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate, or pyramidal; 18–28 cm long; 10–13 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at lower nodes; 9–15 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.6–1 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.1–1.4 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.6 mm long; membranous; grey; shiny; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; without sulcus; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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