Eriachne pauciflora

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; woolly. Culms erect; 14–85 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–3 fertile spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5 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 lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliate. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume margins scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 12–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea surface villous.

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.