Ehrharta colensoi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1.5 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 2.3 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 5–6 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined; smooth; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.2 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; acuminate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 1.5–2 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–6 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Cheeseman 1993.

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