Ehrharta polynoda

HABIT Perennial. Culms rambling; 100–250 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 2–10 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 lanceolate; laterally compressed; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 mm long; 0.25 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 mm long; 0.25 length of spikelet; membranous; 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 lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; smooth; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 2 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 9–10 mm long; 1.1 length of lower sterile floret; herbaceous; acuminate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 6 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 9 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 4.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Cheeseman 1993.

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