Contains 5 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
ERIOCHLOA Kunth, in Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 94. 1816.
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TYPE: Eriochloa distachya Kunth Lectotypified by Nash, in Britton, N. Amer. Fl. 17: 157. 1912.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eriochloa acuminata | TAPERTIP CUPGRASS | Not Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Eriochloa contracta | PRAIRIE CUPGRASS | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Eriochloa michauxii var. michauxii | MICHAUX'S CUPGRASS | Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Eriochloa michauxii var. simpsonii | SIMPSON'S CUPGRASS | Native FACW (DEP) | ||
| Eriochloa polystachya | CARIBGRASS | Not Native FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) |
Identification Key
1. Internodes pilose to pubescent; inflorescence branches appressed to the main axis; spikelets solitary at the middle of the branches, sometimes in unequally pedicellate pairs near the base
1. Internodes glabrous to sparsely pubescent; inflorescence branches spreading to ascending-appressed, at the least basal branches divergent from the main axis; spikelets in unequally pedicellate pairs or triplets at the middle of the branches, sometimes solitary distally
2
2. Plants annual; upper glumes acute to acuminate, often terminating in awnlike apices up to 1.5 mm long; lower florets without paleas
2. Plants perennial; upper glumes acute, unawned; lower floret of each spikelet usually with a palea
3
3. Culms decumbent, rooting at the lower nodes; spikelets 3.2-3.9 mm long, 1.1-1.3 mm wide; lower floret of each spikelet with or without a palea
3. Culms erect to slightly decumbent, not rooting at the lower nodes; spikelets 3.7-5.7 mm long, 1.3-1.8 mm wide; lower floret of each spikelet always with a palea
4
4. Lower florets staminate; blades generally flat, usually 8-15 mm wide
4. Lower floret sterile; blades involute to conduplicate, 5-8 mm wide
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helopus | Helopus Trinius, Fund. Agrost. 103. 1820. | TYPE: Helopus pilosus Trinius, nom. illegit. (Milium ramosum Retzius) | |
| Oedipachne | Oedipachne Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 51. 1827. | TYPE: Oedipachne punctata (Linnaeus) Link (Milium punctatum Linnaeus) |