Ehrharta diplax

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short, or elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 40–90 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths loose; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or involute; (17–)30–40 cm long; 2–4(–13) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear; 20–55 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Racemes 1; single.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–8.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes elongated below basal sterile floret. Rhachilla elongation 0.2–0.4 mm long. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 1.25 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 0.6–1.4 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.6–2.5 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume margins ciliolate. 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; 3.5–8 mm long; 0.75–1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined; scabrous; rough on veins; attenuate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1–10 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 6–14 mm long; 2 length of lower sterile floret; membranous; scabrous (om veins); attenuate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 8–18 mm long. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.6–8.5 mm long; hyaline, or membranous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous; rough on veins. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid. Palea lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; 1 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; obovate; 1 mm long; membranous; glabrous. Anthers 2; 1–2.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; lanceolate; 3.2–5 mm long. Embryo 0.15 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Malesia and Papuasia. Australasia: New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern and south-central.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Willemse.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Callus of upper sterile floret puberulous.

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