Eragrostis interrupta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–90 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–60 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; distant; 1–2.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 10–25 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5 mm long; scarious; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; 0.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Indo-China and Malesia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1995.

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