Eragrostis eriopoda

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades spreading; 5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; 11.5–20 cm long; 3–7.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending, or spreading, or reflexed; distant; 1 -nate; simple, or sparsely divided; 2–6.5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–62 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; straight, or curved; laterally compressed; 6–22 mm long; 2–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; fragile above; with the distal florets disarticulating separately.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.75–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.75–2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent; midway between midvein and margin. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex emarginate. Palea obovate. Palea keels thickened; scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 0.75 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr C Austral 1994.

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