Eriachne pallescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long; wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 8 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; with excurrent keel veins.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 2.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India, Indo-China, Malesia, and Papuasia. Australasia: Australia. Pacific: northwestern.

NOTES Eriachneae. WDC.

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