Eragrostis australasica

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100–300 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes solid. Lateral branches ample. Branch complement one to many. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–12 mm long; 0.9–1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 2.5–4 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; hyaline; grey; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea readily splitting down midline. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or obovoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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