Eragrostis tenella

Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg., ed. 15 (bis.). 2: 576. 1817; Bor, Grasses Burma, Ceyl. Ind. Pak. 513. 1960; Sharma & Khosla, Grasses Punj. and Chandigarh 85. 1989; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 672. t. 51. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 786. 2006; Eragrostis amabilis var. tenella (L.) A. Camus in H. Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 7: 557. 1922; E. tenella var. plumose (Retz.) Stapf. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 7: 315. 1897; Poa tenella L., Sp. Pl. 1: 69. 1753.

An annual with loosely tufted culms, 10-30 cm long, erect or geniculately ascending culms, branched from base. Leaf blades 3-12 cm x 2-4 mm, linear, flat, tapering to a fine point, glabrous; leaf sheaths striated, glabrous, sometimes bearded at mouth; ligule a short scarious rim with a fringe of short hairs. Inflorescence an oblong or ovate, loose and open or contracted panicle, up to 12 cm x 3.5 cm; primary branches 3.5-4 cm long, alternate or whorled, more or less spreading, sometimes bearded at base with long hairs. Spikelets ovate-oblong, laterally compressed, 1.5-4 mm x 1-1.8 mm, 3-9-flowered; pedicels 0.5-2 mm long, scabrid, sometimes with a gland. Glumes subequal, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1-nerved; lower shorter, ca. 8 mm long, upper ca. 1 mm long, nearly as long as lemma. Lemma broadly ovate-oblong, acute, ca. 1 mm long, 3-nerved, scabrid on keels. Palea as long as the lemma, oblong-ovate, ciliate on the keels, with spreading, long, rigid hairs. Stamens 3; anthers 0.2 mm long.

Flowering and Fruiting: August to December
Common Names: Chinese Lovegrass