Eragrostis variabilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; robust; 40–80 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 25–50 cm long; 4–10 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear, or lanceolate; 10–40 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; glabrous in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes glabrous, or pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate, or attenuate. Upper glume ovate; 2–3 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate, or attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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