Ehrharta laevis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–60 cm long; wiry. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–16 cm long; 3–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -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 oblong, or ovate; 6 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; smooth; obtuse. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong, or ovate; 6 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; cartilaginous; obtuse. Fertile lemma oblong; 5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 9 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 3.5 mm long; 1 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 4.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Gardner 1993.

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