Eriachne obtusa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; dense; 4–12 cm long; 2–3.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2.5 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous in axils, or bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–3.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–4.75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3–4.75 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3–4.75 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3–4.75 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous; hairy below; with tubercle-based hairs. Lemma margins involute; ciliate. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.75–2 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Gr C Austral.

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