Eragrostis confertiflora

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 22–30 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear, or lanceolate; 6–17 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 5–25 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels smooth. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr C Austral 1994.

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