Eriachne melicacea

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 1–3 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 11 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins. Upper glume apex acute.

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

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.