Eragrostis microcarpa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect; slender; 30–60 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–20 cm long; 12–15 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1–4 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; 1.25 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 oblong; 1 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex erose; acute. Upper glume oblong; 1.4 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex erose; acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 1.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; close to margins. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea linear; 1–1.2 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.15 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 0.4 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Vickery 1994.

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