Eragrostis falcata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; pubescent. Culms 10–40 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 2–8 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–15 cm long; 2–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1.5–3 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; straight, or curved; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–15 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1.2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 1.5–1.8 mm long; cartilaginous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gardner.

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