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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Ehrharta acicularis

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 3–13 cm long. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 1–2.6 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–6 fertile spikelets on each.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1–2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 0.5 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 5–5.5 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; scaberulous; rough on midvein; scaberulous on margins; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 6–6.8 mm long; 1.2 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3–4 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled. Lemma surface with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea 2.5–2.75 mm long. Palea apex ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.75 mm long; membranous. Anthers 2; 1.1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Edgar & Connor 2000.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.