Eriachne rara

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–75 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 4–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or oblong; 3–7 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 5–9 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 ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 5–9 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume margins tuberculate; ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 12–27 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea apex awned; awns 1.5–4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Fl SE Queensl 1994.

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