Eragrostis purpurascens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–60 cm long. Lateral branches sparse, or ample. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 15–30 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 15–25 cm long; 10–15 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1–2 -nate; sparsely divided; 8–12 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 1–1.2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.75–0.85 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.4 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Harvey 1994.

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