Eragrostis plurinodis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present. Culms 35–55 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 7–13 cm long.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 9–13 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–3 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–13 mm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; tough throughout, or fragile above.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.8 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8–2.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Guiana 1995.

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