Heterachne gulliveri

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–25 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 2–20 cm long. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets orbicular; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 2–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma margins ciliolate (obscurely). Lemma apex obtuse. Palea bowed outwards; 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump (fan-like); oblong. Apical sterile lemmas winged on keel.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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