Eragrostis retinens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 20–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 4–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–30 cm long; 8–20 cm wide. Primary panicle branches not whorled. Panicle branches viscid; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 1.7–3.5 mm long; 1–1.7 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8–1.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.9–1.6 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate; with hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.7–0.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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