Eragrostis plumbea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 70–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 5–10 in number; ascending; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10(–16) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–11 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–3.2 mm long; membranous; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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