Eriachne scleranthoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 60–105 cm long; woody. Lateral branches ample. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades spreading; flat, or conduplicate; 6–25 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1–2 fertile spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; angular; 2–4 mm long; scabrous; pubescent.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary; 0–2 in number.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 3–3.75 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3.75–4.25 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface setose; hairy below. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels. Lemma apex acuminate, or cuspidate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Lazarides.

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