Eragrostis swallenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Glands annular. Culms 40–70 cm long. Culm-internodes glandular (below nodes). Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–25 cm long; 10–15 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or reflexed; simple; 3–12 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–25 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–16 mm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.4 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8 mm long; 0.9 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; membranous; dark green; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scabrous. 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.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Texas 1994.

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