Eriochrysis warmingiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 100–220 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 30–60 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; ascending; linear; 2.5–4.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–30 cm long. 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; puberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base and with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate. Spikelet callus hairs white; 1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface flat; glabrous. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume hairs white; 1–1.5 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; cartilaginous; 1-keeled. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 0 -veined; without midvein; without lateral veins; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma oblong; 2 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Andropogoneae. FW 1995.

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