Eragrostis palmeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 70–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 20–35 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.8 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.4 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; grey; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 0.6–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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