Eragrostis maderaspatana

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–45 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1–7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.7 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 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 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1994.

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