Eragrostis monticola

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 6–15 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 1993.

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