Ehrharta thomsonii

HABIT Perennial; cushion forming. Culms 2–12 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 0.5–1 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–5 fertile spikelets.

Panicle capitate; ovate; 0.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.5 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of spikelet; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -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; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; smooth; acuminate. Lemma of upper sterile floret elliptic; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of lower sterile floret; cartilaginous; acuminate; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret 1 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lemma apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Cheeseman 1993.

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