Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Eragrostideae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
only vars. pectinacea and miserrima (Fourn.) Reeder occur in California
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
tufted lovegrass
Primary Disseminule Type
caryopsis alone or ± sheathed by lemma
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary, pedicelled, consisting of 5–22 fertile florets with similar-looking though diminished sterile florets at apex, linear-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, laterally compressed, (3.5)5–8(11) mm long x (1)1.2–2(2.5) mm wide, yellowish-brown or dark reddish-purple. Disarticulation between fertile florets such that the palea is persistent and the disseminule is typically the caryopsis ± sheathed by the lemma.
Glumes deciduous, similar, subulate to ovate-lanceolate, shorter than spikelet, hyaline to membranous, keeled (without glands on keel), 1-veined, vein scaberulous, apices acute. Lower glume 0.5–1.5 mm long (0.6 length of upper glume). Upper glume 1–1.7 mm long (0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma), usually broader than lower glume.
Lemma ovate-lanceolate, 1–2.2 mm long, membranous to hyaline, grayish-green proximally, reddish-purple distally, keeled, 3-veined, midvein eglandular, lateral veins close to margins and moderately distinct, apex acute.
Palea 1–2 mm long, hyaline to membranous, 2-veined, keels scaberulous, apex obtuse.
Caryopsis ellipsoid or ovoid to pyriform, outline oblong to lanceolate, slightly laterally compressed, ± terete to somewhat trignous in cross-section, 0.5–1.2 mm long x 0.3–0.5 mm wide, reddish to dark brown, surface smooth to 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