Eragrostis trachycarpa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.25 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 15–45 cm long; 8–25 cm wide; 0.5 of culm length. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–25 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–6 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.5–5 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Rhachilla extension 0–1 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl NSW 1994.

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