Eriochloa acuminata (J. Presl) Kunth
var. acuminata
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Paniceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Eriochloa gracilis (Fourn.) Hitchc.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
southwestern cupgrass
Primary Disseminule Type
spikelet
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets solitary (distally) or more typically in unequally pedicellate pairs (pedicels up to 1 mm long, oblong, scabrous, bearing a few hairs 1–1.5 mm long), ovate to lanceolate, strongly dorsally compressed, 3.5–6 mm long x 1.1–1.4 mm wide, falling entire, consisting of 1 basal sterile lemma and 1 fertile floret without rachilla extension. Spikelet callus globular (cupuliform), incorporating reduced lower glume and thickened rachilla internode, glabrous.
Upper glume ovate to lanceolate, same length as spikelet, membranous, without keel, 5–7-veined, surface scabrous above, hairy below, apex long-acuminate to acute, unawned or awned to 1.2 mm long.
Sterile lemma similar to upper glume (membranous), ovate to lanceolate, 3.6–5 mm long x 1.1–1.4 mm wide, same length as spikelet, setose, 5(7)-veined, surface scabrous above, pilose below, apex acute to acuminate, unawned. Sterile palea absent.
Fertile lemma elliptic, 2.3–3.3 mm long (0.7–0.9 length of sterile lemma), indurate, without keel, 5-veined, margins involute, surface minutely pitted, apex obtuse, mucronate to awned (awn 0.1–0.3 mm long).
Fertile palea indurate, rugose, apex obtuse, margins involute.
Caryopsis oblong, ca. 2 mm long x ca. 1.1 mm wide, whitish, embryo ca. 0.67 length of caryopsis or less, hilum round.
Similar Species
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, AUWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI