Eriachne flaccida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 8–20 cm long; 1 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous, or pilose above.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 4–6 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–6.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea gaping; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea surface villous; hairy below.

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.