Eragrostis advena

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100–150 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 20–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets divergent; free at tip. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with tardily free pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Tothill.

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