Eragrostis paupera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 10–20 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 2–5 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; hispid; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–40 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–35 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; straight, or curved; laterally compressed; 5–45 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma apex emarginate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid, or orbicular; 0.5–0.8 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern, south-central, and north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Wagner 1993.

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