Eriochloa nana

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 5–8 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–6(–8); borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–5.5 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus globular; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.3–1 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 3.5–4 length of fertile lemma; pubescent; acuminate; muticous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–0.9 mm long overall. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.3 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Arriaga 2002.

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