Eragrostis sclerophylla

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50–110 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 4–8 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 20–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; 2.5–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC 1995.

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