Eragrostis sterilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–90 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–16 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; 10–14 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple, or sparsely divided; 2.5 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 20–40 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.75–1.9 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.25 mm long. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 2; 0.4 mm long.

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

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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