Eragrostis refracta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 30–60 cm long; 25–40 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; simple; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; straight; bearing distant spikelets; scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–28 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5–16 mm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.4–1.8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4–2.2 mm long; 0.8–1.2 mm wide; membranous; mid-green, or purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and southeast USA. South America: northern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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