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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Erioneuron pulchellum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Stolons present; with alternating elongated and bunched internodes. Culms 2–15 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 1–5 fertile spikelets; terminal and axillary; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle capitate; oblong, or ovate; 1–2 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or shorter than spikelet; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 1.6–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.4–0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight, or curved; 1.5–2.5 mm long overall. Palea 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; smooth (translucent). Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis; projecting below grain.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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