Eriochrysis P.Beauv.

First published in Ess. Agrostogr.: 8 (1812)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa to India, S. Mexico to Tropical America.

Descriptions

Gramineae, T. A. Cope. Flora Zambesiaca 10:4. 2002

Morphology General Habit
Inflorescence a panicle, bearing short racemes appressed to its central axis; racemes dense, fragile, with clavate internodes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets alike (though pedicelled female and slightly smaller), paired, one sessile, one pedicelled, elliptic, barbate with rufous or tawny hairs from the callus.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Inferior glume chartaceous to coriaceous, broadly convex, copiously ciliate on the margins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Inferior floret represented by a hyaline lemma.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Lemma
Superior lemma entire, awnless; stamens 3.
[FZ]

Gramineae, W. D. Clayton, S. M. Phillips And S. A. Renvoize. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1974

Morphology General Habit
Tufted perennials; culm hollow
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades narrow; ligule a short ciliate membrane or a line of hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence narrow, rufous or tawny, with several racemes ± appressed along the central axis; racemes short, dense, the rhachis fragile and bearing paired, almost similar spikelets, one sessile, the other pedicelled; internodes linear to clavate, usually less than 1/2 the length of the sessile spikelets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Sessile spikelet elliptic, bearded from the callus; callus very short, truncate; lower glume chartaceous to coriaceous, broadly rounded on the back; lower floret reduced to a lemma, this lanceolate, hyaline; upper floret hermaphrodite; lemma lanceolate to oblong, shorter than the spikelet, hyaline, awnless; stamens 3 Pedicelled spikelet a little smaller than the sessile, its upper floret ♀
Sessile
Sessile spikelet elliptic, bearded from the callus; callus very short, truncate; lower glume chartaceous to coriaceous, broadly rounded on the back; lower floret reduced to a lemma, this lanceolate, hyaline; upper floret hermaphrodite; lemma lanceolate to oblong, shorter than the spikelet, hyaline, awnless; stamens 3
Pedicelled
Pedicelled spikelet a little smaller than the sessile, its upper floret ♀
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis ellipsoid.
[FTEA]

nonem

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes absent (9), or short (1). Culms erect (7/7); 12-81.1-220 cm long. Lateral branches lacking (1/1). Ligule an eciliate membrane (6), or a ciliolate membrane (2), or a ciliate membrane (2), or a fringe of hairs (1). Leaf-blades stiff (1), or firm (9).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes borne along a central axis; not compacted (6), or in a multilateral false spike (4); appressed (8), or ascending (2); linear, or oblong (7), or ovate (1); bearing few fertile spikelets (1), or many spikelets (9); bearing 2-4 fertile spikelets on each (1/1). Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subterete. Rhachis internodes linear. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2 in the cluster; the upper smaller. Pedicels linear; tip widened (1/5), or discoid (4/5).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (2); dorsally compressed; 2.5-4.516-7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (2); dorsally compressed; 2.5-4.516-7 mm long; falling entire; deciduous from the base, or with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base truncate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes reaching apex of florets (4), or exceeding apex of florets (6); firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate (1), or elliptic (7), or oblong (2); chartaceous (2), or cartilaginous (3), or coriaceous (5); without keels; 5-7 -veined (1/1). Lower glume lateral veins obscure (3), or distinct (6), or prominent (1). Lower glume surface flat; smooth (9), or scabrous (1); glabrous (7), or pubescent (1), or pilose (1), or villous (2). Lower glume apex entire (9), or dentate (1); 3 -fid (1/1); truncate (2/7), or obtuse (3/7), or acute (3/7). Upper glume lanceolate (1/6), or elliptic (5/6); chartaceous (2/5), or cartilaginous (1/5), or coriaceous (2/5); 1-keeled (5/5); 5-7 -veined (1/1). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (9), or ciliate (1). Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose (1). Upper glume apex acute (4/5), or acuminate (1/5).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (6), or oblong (4); hyaline; 0 -veined (6/8), or 2 -veined (2/8); obtuse (1/1), or acute (1/1). Fertile lemma linear (1), or lanceolate (6), or oblong (1), or ovate (3); hyaline; without keel; 0 -veined (9/9). Lemma surface glabrous (9), or puberulous (1); without hair tufts (9), or with conspicuous apical hairs (1). Lemma margins eciliate (1), or ciliolate (1), or ciliate (8). Lemma apex attenuate (1/1). Palea absent or minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2 (1/1). Anthers 3.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis oblong (2/2).
Distribution
Africa (3), or Tropical Asia (1), or North America (1), or South America (6).
[GB]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0