Eriochrysis laxa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 130–150 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; appressed; linear to oblong; 1.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 16–22 cm long; glabrous. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip clavate.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller (female). Pedicels linear; 1–2 mm long; ciliate; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; truncate, or obtuse; 4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base and with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs tawny; 1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 2–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels. Lower glume surface flat; scabrous; glabrous. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis oblong; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FW 1995.

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