Eragrostis pilosissima

HABIT Perennial. Culms 35–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 6–12 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 13–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 5–7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.5–1.7 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lecomte 1994.

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