Eriochloa Kunth

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton. Flora Zambesiaca 10:3. 1989

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle condensed about the primary branches or of racemes along a central axis, the spikelets single and abaxial, paired or on short side branchlets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets lanceolate to narrowly ovate, thinly biconvex, acute to aristate, with a little globose bead at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Inferior glume vestigial (except E. meyeriana, E. rovumensis),adnate to swollen basal internode of rhachilla. Superior glume as long as spikelet, often with an awn-point.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma

Superior lemma coriaceous, granulose, usually mucronate.

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Morphology General Habit

Annual (19), or perennial (15). Rhizomes absent (33), or short (1). Culms erect (20/26), or geniculately ascending (14/26), or decumbent (3/26), or rambling (2/26); robust (1/2), or weak (1/2); 10-68.23-200 cm long; without nodal roots (1/3), or rooting from lower nodes (3/3). Culm-internodes terete (1/1). Lateral branches lacking (2/8), or sparse (4/8), or ample (2/8), or fastigiate (1/8). Ligule a ciliate membrane (1), or a fringe of hairs (33). Leaf-blades filiform (1), or linear (30), or lanceolate (6); herbaceous (33), or coriaceous (1); stiff (1), or firm (33). Leaf-blade apex muticous (33), or pungent (1).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a panicle (1), or composed of racemes; exserted (33), or embraced at base by subtending leaf (1). Panicle open (1/1). Racemes single (1), or paired (1), or borne along a central axis; appressed (4), or erect (3), or ascending (29), or spreading (1); linear (33), or oblong (1); unilateral; bearing 5-8 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis wingless (30), or narrowly winged (5); angular. Spikelet packing adaxial (9/9); crowded (5), or contiguous (29); 2 -rowed (12/12). Raceme-bases brief (33), or filiform (1). Spikelets ascending (1/3), or pectinate (2/3); solitary (20), or in pairs (23), or clustered at each node (1). Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2-4 in the cluster (1/1). Pedicels free, or fused to each other (1); oblong (30/31), or clavate (1/31); tip discoid (10/10).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (16), or elliptic (15), or oblong (2), or ovate (8); dorsally compressed; 2-4.359-11 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus globular; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; glabrous (32/32).

Fertile

Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (16), or elliptic (15), or oblong (2), or ovate (8); dorsally compressed; 2-4.359-11 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus globular; incorporating lowest rhachilla internode with adnate lower glume; glabrous (32/32).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume

Glumes one the lower absent or obscure (30), or two (4); reaching apex of florets (8), or exceeding apex of florets (27); thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1/4), or ovate (1/4), or oblate (3/4); 0.05 length of upper glume; hyaline (2/3), or membranous (1/3); without keels (2/2); 0 -veined (2/3), or 3-5 -veined (1/3). Lower glume lateral veins absent (2/4), or distinct (2/4). Lower glume surface glabrous (3/4), or pilose (1/4). Lower glume apex truncate (3/4), or obtuse (1/4), or acuminate (1/4), or cuspidate (1/4). Upper glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (25), or ovate (9); membranous (32), or herbaceous (2); without keels; 3 -veined (1/27), or 5 -veined (26/27). Upper glume surface smooth (32), or scabrous (2); glabrous (3), or puberulous (2), or pubescent (20), or pilose (6), or hirsute (1), or villous (4). Upper glume apex entire (33), or dentate (1); 3 -fid (1/1); obtuse (1/33), or acute (11/33), or acuminate (14/33), or attenuate (10/33), or setaceously attenuate (1/33); muticous (23), or mucronate (4), or awned (13); 1 -awned (13/13).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Basal sterile florets male (4), or barren (32); with palea (5), or without significant palea (29). Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (1), or elliptic (27), or ovate (7); 3.5-3.75-4 length of fertile lemma; membranous (8/8); 3 -veined (2/26), or 5 -veined (24/26); obtuse (1), or acute (12), or acuminate (17), or attenuate (6); muticous (31), or mucronate (3), or awned (1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (1), or elliptic (32), or oblong (5), or ovate (2); indurate; without keel; 3 -veined (1/3), or 5 -veined (2/3). Lemma surface smooth (21), or granulose (9), or papillose (2), or reticulate (1), or punctate (1); unwrinkled (32), or rugulose (2). Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (24), or acute (9), or apiculate (1); without ornament (27), or pubescent (7); muticous (7), or mucronate (23), or awned (7); 1 -awned (7/7). Palea involute; indurate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Anthers 3 (8/8).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (4/4); ellipsoid (2/4), or oblong (3/4); dorsally compressed (1/1). Embryo 0.33-0.415-0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform (1/2), or linear (1/2); 0.33 length of caryopsis.

Distribution

Europe (2), or Africa (8), or Temperate Asia (5), or Tropical Asia (6), or Australasia (7), or Pacific (2), or North America (8), or South America (18).