Eragrostis kennedyae

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 30–45 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 11–16.5 cm long; 2.5–3.5 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 2–5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 0.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. 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.