Eriachne glauca

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 45–120 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; oblong, or ovate; 3–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–4 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 ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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