Ehrharta tasmanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 4–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–10 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; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined; ribbed; scaberulous; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1–2 mm long. Lemma of upper sterile floret lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 1.3–1.4 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; scabrous and ribbed; acuminate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 2–5 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–8 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Ehrharteae. WDC 1993.

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