Eriachne basedowii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; involute; 5–32 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear; 2.5–3.5 cm long; 0.7–1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 7 mm long; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; villous; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.5 mm long overall. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface pubescent. Palea apex acuminate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Hartley 1994.

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