Erioneuron pilosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons absent. Culms 10–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–8(–11) cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–9 fertile spikelets.

Panicle capitate; ovate; 2–3 cm long; 1.5–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–18 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 4.5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–6 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 4.5–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above and below. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; laterally compressed; 1.3–1.5 mm long; smooth (translucent). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis; projecting below grain.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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