Eragrostis macrothyrsa

HABIT Perennial. Culms 70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 35 cm long; 5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 35–70 cm long; 15–30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 5–7 -nate; whorled at lower nodes; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; obtuse; 5.7 mm long; 1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hackel 1995.

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