Eriochloa peruviana

HABIT Annual. Culms 20–50 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 4–14 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 5–6; borne along a central axis; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 1–1.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; pubescent; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3 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. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; puberulous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Tovar 1994.

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