Eragrostis glandulosa

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 70–200 cm long. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glandular; hispid; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate, or involute; 35–50 cm long; 6–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 35–40 cm long; 20–35 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 10–15 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches flexuous; glabrous in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 3–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 2.2–5 mm long; 1–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.4–1.8 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scabrous. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels smooth, or scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.8 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Harvey 2010.

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