Eremochloa muricata

HABIT Perennial; mat forming, or caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms decumbent; 16–60 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–10(–15) cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; unilateral; 4–15 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete; glabrous on margins. Rhachis internodes cuneate. Rhachis internode tip crateriform.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels cuneate; foliaceous; 4–5 mm long.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; truncate; 3–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; with central boss; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; winged on keel; winged broadly (fan-shaped); winged near apex; 7 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pectinately spinose. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume elliptic; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 0.8 length of spikelet; hyaline. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea hyaline.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. WDC.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Glume spines flat, 0.5–0.75mm long.

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