Ehrharta turfosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 60–130 cm long. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths tight. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 2–7 cm long; 0.3–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; unilateral; 1–3 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–10 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.8–6.8 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; 1.1–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume ovate; 1.1–2 mm long; 0.2–0.4 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets dissimilar; barren; without significant palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined; ribbed; scabrous; rough on veins; obtuse. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 4.8–6.8 mm long; 1.5 length of lower sterile floret; coriaceous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.8–6.8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 4; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Ehrharteae. Walsh 1997.

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