Eragrostis perlaxa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 40–90 cm long; 1 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 3–8 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; loose; 7–25 cm long; 4–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate; 4–8 cm long; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–60 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 5–25 mm long; 3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl China 2007.

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