Ehrharta distichophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 10–40 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches ample. Leaves distichous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 2–7 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.8–1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets dissimilar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1.7–2 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; smooth; obtuse. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; 2 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 4.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Ewart 1993.

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