Eragrostis rottleri

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–18 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 6–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; not whorled. Panicle branches eglandular; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; laterally compressed; 0.4–0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1999.

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