Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv.
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Eragrostideae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
probably only var. pilosa occurs in California
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
India lovegrass
Primary Disseminule Type
floret (usually without rachilla), caryopsis alone or ± sheathed by lemma
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, pedicelled (pedicels 1–10 mm long), consisting of (3)5–14 fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, linear-oblong to narrowly ovate, laterally compressed, (2)3.5–6(10) mm long x 0.6–1.4 mm wide. Disarticulation between fertile florets such that the rachilla is persistent (on the inflorescence) and the disseminule is a floret (without rachilla) or is the caryopsis ± sheathed by the lemma.
Glumes deciduous, dissimilar, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, shorter than spikelet, hyaline, apices acute. Lower glume (0.3)0.5–0.6(0.8) mm long (0.5–0.7 length of upper glume), without keel or veins. Upper glume 0.7–1.2(1.4) mm long (0.6–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma), keeled, 1-veined.
Lemma ovate to lanceolate, 1–2 mm long (usually <1.8 mm for var. pilosa), membranous to hyaline, grayish-green proximally and reddish-purple distally, keeled, 3-veined, midvein eglandular, lateral veins obscure to ± distinct, apex acute to obtuse.
Palea 1–1.6 mm long, membranous to hyaline, 2-veined, keels scaberulous to scabrous, apex obtuse.
Caryopsis ellipsoid or ovoid to pyriform or rectangular-prismatic, laterally compressed, ± terete to somewhat trigonous in cross-section, 0.5–1 mm long x 0.3–0.5 mm wide, light to dark orangish-brown, surface smooth to faintly striate, ventral side not grooved, embryo 0.5–0.6 length of caryopsis, ± same color as caryopsis, hilum ± round, dark.
Similar Species
Similar Species Comparison Chart
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI