Erioneuron nealleyi

HABIT Perennial. Culms 15–60 cm long; 0.8–2 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose, or hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 5–10 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing 5–17 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6–9 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent (0.5–1 mm). Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5–2.5 mm long; incised 0.4 of lemma length; truncate, or obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1–3.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl N Amer 2007.

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