Eragrostis montana

HABIT Annual. Cataphylls evident. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 2–4 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5.5–8 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–12 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 2–5 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 12–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3–7 mm long; 1.8–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes 0.2–0.25 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume orbicular; 1.1 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2 mm long; membranous; grey; eglandular; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.25 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Malesia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gilliland 1993.

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