Eragrostis perennis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 3–12 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–30 cm long; 1–2.9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 6–14 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 2 cm long. Panicle branches glandular (in axil); glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–7.5 mm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.1 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.8 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous; adorned all along. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; sulcate on hilar side; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Boech & Valls 1995.

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