Eragrostis desertorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Stolons present. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; woolly. Culms 30–40 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 12–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–56 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; curved; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma. 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. Fl W Austral 1994.

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