Eragrostis pringlei

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 1.5–5 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3(–5) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.7–2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1.1 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1–1.4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric (globose); 0.5 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.