Eriachne stipacea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths glabrous. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Culm-nodes bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; dense, or loose; 4–11 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 7–9 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 lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex attenuate, or setaceously attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex attenuate, or setaceously attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 20–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea surface pilose. Palea apex awned; awns 2.5–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. WDC 1994.

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