Eragrostis scabriflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse; arising from mid culm. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–15 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; simple; 1–2 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern, south-central, and northwestern.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen 1993.

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