Eriachne helmsii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; woolly. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 40–90 cm long; wiry; 6–10 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2.5–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 5–11 cm long; 1–2 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 5–15 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface villous; hairy below. Lemma margins involute; ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea surface villous; hairy below.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 3 mm long; light brown; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Gr C Austral 1994.

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