Eriochloa contracta

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–70 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 6–15; borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 1–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 6–15 cm long; villous. Rhachis angular; pilose on surface. Spikelet packing regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus globular; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; pubescent; attenuate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–0.8 mm long overall. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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