Eragrostis spicata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 75–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–30 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 30–35 cm long; 0.4–0.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla deciduous; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.25 mm long; 1.25 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; light green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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