Eragrostis parviflora

HABIT Perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–30 cm long; 10–20 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at lower nodes. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; midway between midvein and margin; stopping well short of apex. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; isodiametric; without sulcus, or sulcate on hilar side; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern and north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gardner.

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