Eragrostis spartinoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–85 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 5–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches distant; simple; 1–4 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–57 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

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 lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75–2.8 mm long; 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 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Malesia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, and northwestern.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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