Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo
ex Janch.
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Eragrostideae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Eragrostis major Host., E. minor var. megastachya Davy ex Jeps.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
stinkgrass
Primary Disseminule Type
caryopsis alone or ± sheathed by lemma
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, pedicelled (pedicels 0.2–3 mm long, oblong, glandular), consisting of (5)10–40(60) fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, oblong to narrowly ovate, laterally compressed, 3–20 mm long x 2–4 mm wide. Disarticulation between fertile florets such that the palea is persistent and the disseminule is typically the caryopsis ± sheathed by the lemma.
Glumes deciduous, similar, lanceolate to broadly ovate, shorter than spikelet, 1.2–2.6 mm long (0.7–0.8 length of lemma), membranous, keeled (with or without glands on keel), 1–3-veined, apices acute.
Lemma broadly ovate to round, (1.3)2–2.8 mm long, chartaceous to membranous, yellow or gray, keeled, 3-veined, midvein typically with 1–3 glands, lateral veins ± distinct, apex acute to obtuse.
Palea 1.2–2.1 mm long, hyaline, 2-veined, keels scabrous, sometimes ciliate also (cilia to 0.3 mm long), apex obtuse to acute.
Caryopsis broadly ellipsoid to almost globular (outline oblong to round), slightly laterally compressed, ± terete in cross-section, 0.5–0.7 mm long x 0.4–0.6 mm wide, dark reddish-brown to ± translucent, surface smooth to faintly striate, ventral side not grooved, embryo 0.4–0.5 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